Enough - Toot Sweet 4 Two

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get through the final goodbye.

I wish you enough.

-Bob Perkins

This first day of November, as we in America start the season of gratitude and thanksgiving, I wish you enough.

The cover photo above is gorgeous La Jolla Cove at the gloaming just before sunset. Taken in January a few years ago, I’m reminded how lucky I am to live in “America’s Finest City” even though lately I’ve been complaining about the heat. And, even though I miss the fall weather on occasion, I’m not sure I want to live anywhere else.

I think if a poll was taken on San Diego’s population, more than 50% were probably not born here. I wasn’t born here, but moved here when I was 21, following my family after my father’s retirement from the Air Force. My grandparents lived here and although they were born in California, they weren’t born in San Diego. One of my sister’s was born here; we were stationed at a military base somewhere else (I think Texas) and my father was often gone on missions. So, my mother came to visit her parents (with me and another sister in tow) and my youngest sister was born during that visit.

I’m grateful that I always have enough sun to keep my attitude bright.

I’m grateful that we get the occasional rain storm to replenish our parched environment.

I’m grateful that I’ve found happiness in various forms throughout my life.

I’m grateful to have been born to my parents and knowing the pain of my father’s loss so that I’m better prepared for my mother’s passing.

I’m grateful that I’ve been employed throughout my adult life, making my life easier.

I’m grateful to have lost our home in the 2007 wildfire, known as the Witch Fire, because now I have a better appreciation for people, relationships, family and not things, stuff, possessions.

I’m grateful that I have lived in the same city as my parents, spending quality time with them throughout the last 30 years, so that I could say my final goodbye to my father and be there for him.

Here’s the same photo with Bob Perkin’s prose so that you can pin it to Pinterest to remind you of your “enoughs”: