I’m out on the mad dog course. It’s Thanksgiving Day. My Thanksgiving meal is oatmeal and a banana. Both Mo and I work today, so we watched the Macy parade this morning and went our separate ways. I’m alone for the rest of the day. I wonder if I should feel sorry for myself.

Of course not.

I’m able to be out trotting on a glorious 88 degree day. The mad dog course is full of people turkey trotting, turkey frisbee golfing, turkey cycling. There’s a motorized skateboard, a reluctant foo-foo dog, an over-caffeinated kid. It’s everything that makes the mad dog great. Our own little Thanksgiving Day parade, marching bands sold separately.

I have so much to be thankful for. We had the perfect Thanksgiving meal on Monday with a dear friend, days before it became trendy. We get to run a trail turkey trot (try saying that five times fast) together on Saturday. My health is OK, as is Mo’s. We have good jobs, loving families, a cat that tolerates us. It’s a good life.

It’s easy to take things for granted. Now and then, I guess it’s a good thing to check the scorecard and realize how good you have it. Thanksgiving isn’t about eating too much and watching people destroy their brains while you fall asleep on the couch. Thanksgiving is about giving thanks. A silent prayer to the running gods for those who are suffering, and an acknowledgement of all the good things that have happened to us this year even under the black cloud.

Tomorrow I’ll go back to being a grouch.

Today? Today I’m just thankful.