Things for which to be thankful.

WITH THANKSGIVING JUST AROUND the corner, it makes for a good time to take a step back and think about some of the things that we all ought to be thankful for:

* Not having everything you desire because it gives you something to work for and appreciate.

* Watching the sunrise.

* Spending the day at the beach.

* Parking far away at the crowded mall because it means that you have money to spend and the ability to walk on your own.

* Watching your waistline expand a little because it means that you have food to eat.

* You and your dog playing fetch on a cool autumn morning.

* Taking the kids to practice during the dark, cold winter months because it means that you have a family to spend time with.

And, speaking of the kids, I first read this piece below when my wife and I took our three sons to Ohio to visit my sister and her family a few years ago for Thanksgiving.

It was a house full. Four adults, seven kids, two dogs and a hamster somewhere between the basement and the bedrooms upstairs.

The baby is teething-the children are fighting. My spouse just called and said to eat dinner without them. Okay, one of these days you'll shout: "Why don't you grow up and act your age!" and they will, or "You guys get outside and find yourselves something to do ... and don't slam the door!"... and they won't.

You'll straighten up their rooms neat and tidy ... bumper stickers discarded ... spreads tucked and smooth ... toys displayed on the shelves ... hangars in the closet ... animals caged, and you'll say out loud: "Now I want it to stay that way!" and it will ... You'll prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn't been picked to death and a cake with no finger traces in it and you'll say, "Now there's a meal for a company." and you'll eat it alone.

You'll say, "I want complete privacy on the phone. No dancing around, no pantomimes, no demolition crews. I'd like some quiet. Do you hear?"... and you'll have it. No more plastic tablecloths stained with spaghetti, no more anxious nights under a vaporizer tent, no more dandelion bouquets, no more iron-on patches, knotted shoestrings, or tight boots.

Imagine, shaving cream in the can, lipstick with a point, no babysitter for New Year's Eve, washing clothes only once a week, no P.T.A. meetings, carpools, blaring radios, Christmas presents out of toothpicks and paste. No more "Wet Oatmeal Kisses". No more tooth fairy giggles in the dark, or knees to heal.

Only a voice crying ... "Why don't you grow up?"... and the silence echoing ..."I did."

--Author Unknown

Enjoy and be thankful for all of the little things in your life.

Bill Johnson can be reached at bjohnson@dhi.org or (703) 766-7039. For more information on the Foundation, please visit www.lifessafetysecurity.org.

By Bill Johnson, Managing Director, Foundation for the Advancement of Life Safety and Security