Street Smart

As I write this, I’m sitting in a hotel room thinking about Thanksgiving two days past. I’m in Seattle for work and not sure how long I’ll be here. Being in Seattle has made me very homesick, but it is also what caused me to reflect on all that I have to be thankful for. I know this column will appear in the Ledger a full week after the actual Thanksgiving holiday, but I still feel compelled to share my thoughts. This may ramble a bit!

Being in Seattle for an extended stay has made me realize what a privilege it is to live in Thompson Falls, Montana! The crowds, traffic, filth and homeless situation in Seattle made me remember my time living near and working in Los Angeles. My wife and I left all that for small-town living several years ago. Our lives have been so blessed since moving to Thompson Falls that it’s hard to explain. I think you’d have to have spent an extended period of time in a place like Seattle or Los Angeles to understand. I’ve learned to count my blessings.

It seems that every year during the holidays, I’m asked to say a prayer before a meal. Each year, I politely refuse. Why? Because I’m so thankful for all I have in this life of mine that I know I couldn’t get through a prayer without choking up! Those who don’t know me well might be surprised to hear me state that my Christian faith is very strong. I’m not the kind of guy who wears it on my sleeve. My faith is a very personal, private thing to me. I guess I fumble the ball pretty badly when it comes to evangelism. I’ll quite willingly offer an opinion about faith and Christianity if asked, but mostly, I keep my thoughts to myself. My Christian faith has taught (and continues to teach) me many things. For example, I’ve learned that the greatest personal growth takes place during the toughest times. That lesson, and countless others, have been a blessing!

When we first moved here, we became friends with our closest neighbors almost immediately. These friends have now become more like family to my wife and me. As time went on, we made more and more friends, who have become like family to us as well. It wasn’t like that for us in California. We lived in our last house for eight years and only knew the names of two of our many neighbors. They all seemed like nice enough people… we just never socialized with or got to know them. It’s different here. Besides the beauty of our area, one of the first things I tell people when describing life in Thompson Falls is how wonderful and friendly the people here are. We live in a special place. That’s a blessing!

I’m married to my best friend! I know that’s kind of a “Hallmark” card type of statement, but in my case, it happens to be the truth. My wife and I do nearly everything together and don’t like too much time apart. Our health is good and we lead a very active life. That’s a blessing!

Overall my family is healthy and happy. Sure, we have our difficulties just like everyone else. Nothing is perfect. However, we communicate pretty well and do what we can to help one another through the tough times. Our children are grown and building lives of their own. Our grandchildren are thriving! Three are starting service in the military and the fourth is working for a company with a bright future. They’re all healthy. That’s a blessing!

Some may think I’ve over used the term “That’s a blessing” in this column. The overuse of that term was intentional. It’s easy for us all to focus on the negative rather than the positive. I know I can certainly be guilty of that at times! It took being away from home around the Thanksgiving holiday to wake me up to that truth.

Blaine Blackstone is a retired Los Angeles Police Sergeant who enjoys the simpler life in Thompson Falls. He can be reached by email at [email protected].