Time for Houstonians to count their blessings

For Houstonians, November is the month most likely to seem like fall. The grass begins to turn a little browner, and a few more leaves begin to flutter down from the trees. The real look of fall in Houston is a question of timing. Will the leaves turn yellow, red, and brown with that Indian Summer look before or after Thanksgiving? Or will it occur in December? Or maybe the colors of Autumn will just skip this year, as has happened in other years.

The temperature, too, is unpredictable in November. Many Thanksgiving dinners in Houston are served in air conditioned dining rooms. But there has also been very cold weather, and even a snowflake or two, on Thanksgiving Day. We Houstonians are used to the unpredictability of our mild climate this time of year.

There are many things that Houstonians can be thankful for if they really think about their daily activities over the past year. For instance, give thanks if you did not have a fender-bender on the freeway this year, or were not towed by a Safe Clear wrecker. Give thanks if you have managed not to be photographed by a red light camera, or gotten stuck in traffic blocking an intersection when the light turns red. Give thanks if you were not stuck on the toll road for hours due to an overturned 18-wheeler. Give thanks if you do not have to drive on a toll road.

Give thanks if you were not hit by the light rail train. Give thanks if you do not live in a floodway. Give thanks if you drove through a flooded street and your car didn't stall. Give thanks if your plastic grocery bag didn't tear and break your jar of pickles. Give thanks if your fast food orders were right 90% of the time. Give thanks if you didn't have to park in a Medical Center parking garage. Give thanks if your neighbors don't let their pit bull run loose. Give thanks if you can get good coffee at a convenience store. Give thanks if a condominium was not built next to your home. Give thanks if your property tax appeal actually lowered your taxes.

Give thanks as the Pilgrims gave thanks for their blessings and survival through the year. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.