Traveling Mercies

Do you like Thanksgiving? I do. I’m already counting down the days and looking forward to both the food and the company. But since Thanksgiving is about counting our blessings, this is a good time to reflect on 2009 and the bounty the year provided. During a time when so many people were losing jobs or were fearful of losing jobs, I was blessed to get a new job. I joined a company where I had worked before – but in a new position. Many of the pains of a new job I didn’t have to experience, I knew the people, I knew the culture and I knew many of the job skills that I would be expected to perform. The company culture fits me well, I have friends and colleagues I enjoy spending my time with and I’m intellectually challenged by my duties. If I had to write the perfect job description for me, this would be it. My career change definitely counts as a blessing. In a time of war, when many families are torn apart by deployments, serious injury or even death, I am surrounded by people I love a...

Yesterday, I went to the North Carolina State Fair where the theme was “a whole lotta happy”. My favorite “happy” about the fair is the food. The smells greet you in the parking lot. Once inside, I head straight for the hotdogs. Almost every tent or stand serves hotdogs; however, my non-negotiable criteria for hotdogs are they must be red and they must be grilled. I was not disappointed at the Shriners’ tent and I felt good eating “bad for me” food knowing the profits help support the Shiners’ charity work for children’s hospitals. My next stop was the exhibit halls. I love to view the 4-H entries, the decorated cakes, the items being hawked by Billy Mays wanna-bes and free samples of food. It’s here that I get the stickers which will adorn my sweat shirt for the remainder of the evening: Democratic Party, North Carolina State University (though I attended Meredith College, I cheer for NC State) and “Got Milk”. While eating my free peanuts, I’m mesmerized by the veggie peeler and stea...