Boxing Day 2004

Thankfully my Aunt and Uncle are back safely from Sri Lanka. I got this note from my Uncle this morning...

We got an email from a reporter for the Westerly (RI) Sun who wants to do a story about our experience in Sri Lanka.  She'll write the story so I don't know what the end product will be like.  I kept a journal on the trip but haven't had time to formalize thoughts yet.  A friend said I should write an article that tells what all the other stories are missing.  I'm not sure what he had in mind but I think he's wondering about the feeling of guilt that survivors experience in a disaster when others all around have died.  My response to that:

"I didn't come away from this experience with any guilt...I had dealt with that dynamic in Viet Nam a long time ago.  We really didn't see much of anything as we left the beach area just ahead of the destruction.  I think what I came away with this time is the realization that I shouldn't complain about ANYTHING in my life because whatever it is that's bothering me, it pales by comparison.  So next time I catch myself getting upset because some asshole cuts me off in a parking lot, or the waiter doesn't put enough ice in my martini, or it's too windy at the beach, I'll just think about Boxing Day 2004 in Sri Lanka and thank my lucky stars for my good fortune."

Exactly. Its always nice to be reminded of that, isn't it? The glass is not half empty. In reality its so damn full, why even be worried about the two more drops you might be able to squeeze into the glass?