12 years ago, I was driving home from Target. I had spent a little more time in the store than planned (super typical) and was annoyed to be later getting home. I had promised to make Aaron some stuffed manicotti-one of his faves. It takes a while to make, and I still had to grab a few more ingredients at Hy-Vee on the way back. The parking lot at Target is tough to get out of, I was irritated with drivers who weren’t moving, and every light I hit was red. I was finally approaching a green one, and just before my right turn, it turned yellow. The car in front of me stopped, so I had no choice. I made an audible noise of frustration. Clearly, my time was just too precious to sit at a light for one more second. The car in front of me took its time, but finally turned. I rolled through the light and felt shivers. As I finally got moving, I saw brake lights just over a hill. People parking and running, holding up their hands motioning traffic to stop. No police, ambulance, or sirens. Frantic humans, running to help others. I hadn’t seen anything, but the car in front of me, the one who stopped for the red light, pulled over and I did the same. The car in front of him had been hit hard by another vehicle, and was waiting for EMTs, which we could now hear coming. I didn’t see the crash, but it looked bad. I rolled down my window to see how I could be helpful. I smelled a strange burning odor, maybe tires. The Police, ambulance, and fire trucks were there quickly, and routed us off the street. It appeared that both drivers were injured, but coherent.

I got to Hy-Vee and let myself sob. I was shaking from the situation, shaking and crying. There was no math needed to know where my car would have been, if not for the car in front of me. If the car hadn’t taken its time. If I’d hit just one green light. I zombie walked to get the manicotti, which suddenly seemed so unimportant, and when I got back to my cute little blue car, which was very much intact, I stared at it, and told myself that I’d never turn into such a brat over red lights again. It just might save me from a crash. I’ve needed to remind myself of this over the years, as I seem prone to bratty behavior when things don’t go as planned. But I’ll never forget. I shivered beforehand, but didn’t know why. Sometimes, I’m not meant to be where I want to be.

Today, this beautiful Thanksgiving, I’m home with my girls. They were supposed to have a sleepover at my parents last night, I was supposed to run a 10k in Faribault this morning, and then to Holly’s for Thanksgiving dinner. Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Instead, I’ve set out stuffed pork chops, potatoes to mash, and corn to thaw. I’ll go to Kwik Trip in a bit to see if they have anything pumpkin flavored. I was sad when I went to bed last night, knowing that today would not go as planned, but I woke up mostly content and thankful.

I know that I don’t avoid a big crash every time plans change. I know I’m not some spectacular human that is magically spared death on a daily basis. But I also know that I don’t need to act like a pill every time things don’t go my way. So, instead of pouting, today I’ll count my blessings.

I’m grateful for plenty. Here is a short list:

• Maizy and Layla and their very bizarre antics and their very sweet, tender hearts
• Grocery stores
• A warm house
• Intact vehicles
• Food
• The ability to buy the things we need
• A job that pays many bills
• Activities that create said bills
• A career that often allows me to feel the magic of children
• My folks and siblings and their families
• A strong faith
• An incredible group of friends (even the ones I rarely seem, but randomly send me mildly inappropriate memories or jokes)
• A capable, mostly strong body
• Nice shovels
• Solar lights
• Electricity
• Our weird cat, who somehow enriches our lives when we least expect it
• Shady trees
• Running shoes and the ability to use them
• Incredible neighbors
• Manicotti

Happy Thanksgiving, friends. Thanks for reminding me all that we (all of us) have to be thankful for. Xo