On my Apple Watch is an app called “Mindfulness”. It comes up with a notification on my watch in the morning and in the evening. I can ignore it, but lately I have actually been using the app when I get the notification. It has a timer for “Reflect” and one called “Breathe”. It helps get your breathing in a rhythm to help you unwind for 60 seconds. I found it is pretty helpful. The “Reflect” section just wants you to ponder various things in life each time for 60 seconds.

The “Reflect” notification came up tonight and said “think about all the challenges you have overcome”. I thought about the big events in my life during the last few years. Loss of your parents is overwhelming and we almost all go through it. I am so fortunate that I had them in my life, and I miss them every day. However, it’s the other big things that have happened to me more recently over the last few years that I have to pause and reflect upon this year.

It was six years ago today I had my motorcycle wreck. It’s been nearly 10 months since I had my heart attack, followed by a triple bypass surgery seven months ago (a quadruple bypass is called a “widowmaker” for a reason). I know that I am pretty damn fortunate to have lived through these events. I sure as hell don’t take it for granted; I would be a fool if I did.

On this Thanksgiving Day, I am so very fortunate to still be here through all of those things to talk about it. I still get to see my daughters and granddaughters, whom I love very much, and that is the most important part for me. I am doing the things I need to do to keep that happening for a long time to come.

I won’t go any deeper or further with this since being “thankful” is personal to each of us in our own way, and it may not have the same meaning to you as it does someone else.

So, this year it was more than just about the turkey and dressing for me. Took me a while to really see it, but it’s come into focus much more clearly. It is still hard to wrap my head around it.

I’m one very lucky bastard.

Now, on to something cheerier.

I watched the 1st episode of The Beatles: Get Back on Disney+. I will definitely watch the other episodes when they are released over the next couple of days, but I feel that it is not for the casual fan. It is film of them through the highs and lows, coming up with ideas & writing songs, and other things along the way. I thought it was very interesting but it is definitely not a documentary. It’s a film of them toward the end of the band. Watching the songwriting process was fascinating to me, and to see the interactions between them was interesting. These were no longer the Fab Four.

That is all for now.