By Georgia Osten
Have you ever sat back and thought of all the stuff you take for granted? Stuff isn’t a good word, things, people, surroundings – it’s a broad term. When I started writing this, I was going for something simple, like my oven … As I began writing, I began to think about all the day-to-day things and PEOPLE. What about the UPS guy or the FedEx Lady? What about your parents, your in-laws who used to have the house down on the beach, the one that got blown away by Ike? Not to mention those closest to you, like your spouse and your children.

Okay, let’s start with the oven, simple enough. The oven has been out for at least 3 weeks, waiting for Joe, the repairman, to get a part for us. Let’s face it, the oven is as old as the house, 12 years or so. Is that old for an oven?

Anyway, we were expecting our boys to come for the night, they wanted to stay with us and go out fishing the next day. Get this, they took for granted there would be fish to catch? Anyway, I decided on steaks and baked potatoes. OOPS, no oven, can’t do baked potatoes, so I decided to do my cheesy potatoes. Some people would call them Potatoes Au Gratin. Peeled the potatoes, cut up onions and cheese, slathered some butter on top and then … No really, no oven, can’t just pop them in, what to do?

I called Anna, she has the house up the street, the one we manage for her for renters, no renters this weekend, they cancelled because of Laura. No problem, we were able to go ahead and bake the potatoes over there.

The boys loved the meal. After dinner, they were ready to go find some local entertainment. You know, like Ships Wheel, Stingaree Down Under, Jose’s Sports Bar … You know, other stuff you take for granted – NOTHING OPEN!

They came back home and proceeded to sit on the deck with their beverages. They heard a party going on in the subdivision next door, so they grabbed the cooler and headed over to the party where they were accepted with open arms.

Next morning, my husband began cooking breakfast, took our the frozen Grands Biscuits, lined them up on the baking sheet, OOPS, no oven. Tortillas will suffice.

I feel I’m rambling now, so in an end to this thought, let’s try to be grateful for what’s been laid out for us. Be thankful for all the hurricanes that passed us by, feel remorse for those who didn’t get passed by.

Take time to give thanks. Reach out to your loved ones and give them a hug, life is too short.

[August-31-2020]