Count Your Blessings, Name Them One By One

On our trip back from Dayton to view the eclipse, Cathy and I had a flat tire in Caryville, TN. On Tuesday morning I stood in the parking lot of the Hampton Inn, looking over Cove Lake, waiting on the auto service from AAA to come change the tire for us. As I drank my coffee on that crisp, cloudy morning, I remembered to “give thanks in all circumstances.” My mother had taught me that when I was little, using the little song “Count Your Blessings.” (Later, I was reminded by Monty Python with the song “Always Look On The Bright Side of Life.”) So I decided to see how many blessings I could count from this event. Here goes:

1. This happened to us, and not to other people who might have had a harder time with it (people older than us, families traveling with children, people with a business schedule to care for, etc.).
2. It happened on this end of the trip, and not the other, when we did not have to worry about getting anywhere on a schedule. If it had happened going out, it would have been a bit more of a problem.
3. It happened in the parking lot of the Hampton Inn, and not out on the interstate highway. That would have been a real pain in the butt.
4. It happened during the night while we were spending the night there, so we could wait until the next morning to get it repaired.
5. While it punctured my tire, it did not deflate it. A small metal rod went through the tread and not the side wall. It made a noise as we drove to get something to eat and that’s how we discovered it.
6. We had AAA coverage, so I didn’t have to figure out how to use the jack (though I could do it).
7. I had a beautiful view and decent coffee (unusual for a motel) to drink while waiting.
8. We did not have to worry about the cost of replacing the tire if needed. We had saved money up for emergencies.
9. The young guy in the tow truck (from Dan’s Towing in Andersonville, TN) was more than helpful. He also told us where we could get the tire repaired or replaced.
10. The tire store was only 7 miles away and we did not have to get on the interstate to get to it.
11. The repair guy at JR’s Tires in LaFollette, TN, was able to get to us immediately and it took only 20 minutes. (I recommend them!)
12. The tire did not need to be replaced. It was patched, which was a lot cheaper.
13. We met some nice people at the Hampton Inn, from Dan’s Towing, and JR’s Tires.
14. Cathy got to play with a cat, Kevin, at JR’s Tires.
15. We got home later than planned, but everything was fine.

Whenever unexpected things come our way, Cathy and I look at each other and say “We’re on an adventure!”

Always look on the bright side of life….