The young American soldier rose from bed and was baffled to see rainfall coming down in thick, white streams for the first time.
“So, that’s what rain looks like on this side of the world,” he mused to himself.
Dispatched in his early 20s from the Deep South to Japan, the soldier had never seen such a sight until his friend said, matter-of-factly, “Oh, it’s snowing!”
The man telling this story is in his mid-80s. Prior to leaving his home state of Georgia, his family had never owned a TV. Thus, he neither saw real snow falling on the ground nor via celluloid.
Oftentimes, we look at situations through the same two eyes we are all equally blessed with, but walk away with different realities. Try as we might, some of us will always see the glass as half empty.
Everywhere I turn these days, I can never seem to evade complaints of one type or another: Grumbling mothers, rankled husbands, seething wives, disgruntled financiers, dissatisfied employees, disruptive students, and the list goes on.
As human beings, we will always encounter good and bad days in life, but it’s how we perceive those experiences that will make us or break us.
Not for a minute do I wish for people to always see things through rose-tinted glasses. But what if we were to pause and count the many good things that happen to us daily, weekly and yearly? We would be able to truly convert white rain into snow.
Allow me to localize some of the things and people for which I’m grateful in Federal Way: Little Emma Dow who never ceases to bring me her drawings and other keepsakes. She has inspired me to no end.
Rose Ehl and Karla Kolibab for starting the Federal Way Farmers Market. Mike Stanley for creating the Federal Way Senior Center Community Garden.
Who is like unto Federal Way City Councilwoman Jeanne Burbidge? Thanks for being so passionate about people and your community.
Coach Cedric, who selflessly mentors boys every Tuesday at the Foursquare Church. The ever humble NFL Hall-of-Famer Floyd Little, who’s never too busy to drop in and give a real talk to these young men.
Grateful to Cindy Ducich and her family for hosting two time-stopping parties annually.
Federal Way’s finest – Police Chief Brian Wilson and his men and women in uniform. South King Fire and Rescue. Our doctors, nurses, teachers and other mentors. The street sweepers and garbage collectors.
I am grateful for having two state-of-the-art hospitals, two libraries, an Olympic-caliber King County Aquatic Center and the Federal Way Community Center. Movie theaters. Great restaurants. Winco, H-Mart and Trader Joe’s.
Our superintendent of schools, Robert Neu. The talented Federal Way School Board vice president, Amye Bronson-Doherty. The diversity in our city.
The Saghalie student who playfully hobbled along with a walking stick near the fourth quarter at the basketball game last week. Thanks for a good laugh.
For Advancing Leadership, Monda Holsinger and her fellow AmeriCorps angels. FUSION, Communities in Schools, Han Woo-Ri Korean Festival. World Vision.
The many parks, lakes, streams, creeks and brooks. The breathtaking view of Mount Rainier from 1st Avenue! Peasley Canyon. Birds of all descriptions that fly, flit about and sing nonstop.
Grateful for the Tuesday evening men’s fellowship with Dr. Andre Sims at Foundation House.
Janice Siebenaler brings so much life and energy to her projects, and her volunteering spirit has no end. Thus, I’m grateful for the “little things” people do for one another.
To Jessie at Costco — the receipt checker. Your friendliness is magical! Natalie, the walking encyclopedia who not only feeds your stomach with her savory treats, but feeds your brain with innumerable factoids.
Extremely grateful to the people and things that make me sing, dance, laugh, and have a zest for life: Federal Way Chorale, the Federal Way Symphony, and the Federal Way Harmony Kings.
Bill Tidwell for his insights and humor. To the dancing guy waving the Liberty Tax sign at 336th Street and Pacific Highway — your antics always demand a chuckle.
These people, places and events never fail to paint a smile on my face and add a twinkle in my eyes.
Dear reader, it’s my wish to see you compile your own bucket list of people and things for which to be grateful. You surely don’t have to wait until the rain starts falling in wine red to do so.
