Tomar para concedido

Tonight we dined downtown. One of our favorite places-Clyde Common. We spent many a night there drinking and eating with friends and family back when we lived in the Pearl. If you haven't been-I highly recommend it: small but open space with candle-lit communal tables and a lively kitchen right near your table. The energy is lively and it compliments their distinct menu. You never really know what you're going to see on menu and in most cases it won?t be exactly what you think it is. I remember a while back we stop by for dinner with a small group of friends and the special of the night was-"braised cock". To a normal person this may sound like a delicious take on a local bird or game. To someone of my maturity level-it meant that it would be socially acceptable for me to repeat the words "braised cock" for the rest of the evening. Actually-over a year later, I still find it amusing to comment to my wife prior to going out for dinner: "I'm in the mood for some braised cock tonight-are you?". Still makes be chuckle just writing it.
But tonight we dined with some fellow Nike people. We had 2 fellow coworkers from Brazil in town for meetings and since they were so hospitable when we visited a few weeks ago-the least we could do is take them out for dinner while they were in town. We had a great dinner and conversations ranged all over the board from marathon training (not me) to everything they have bought in the last 2 days and how they will get it back into their country. To them stuff here is almost free.. To give you an example: a pair of shoes here in the US would cost you about $100 full retail ($50 at the employee store). In Brazil that same pair of shoes would cost you about $300-$350.
1 conversation stuck with me last night that I hope to never forget. That morning a few of them went on a run around the Nike campus. They talked about how dark and rainy it was-obviously a slight difference from the warm sunny beaches of Rio. But just as they began to speak-Paulo (Brazilian) got all excited and told us that he came across something 'amazing' on their run-a squirrel. Yes that's right-a squirrel. To us a simple furry tailed rat that doesn?t bother anyone, lives in a tree and hoards nuts all day long. To him-it was this majestic creature-hand crafted from God himself and delicately places on Earth. All the Americans laughed at his reaction and we moved on to something else. But when I began to think about it-it made me realize how many things we take for granted in this country or just even personally. We all have done it. Sometimes the consequences more severe than others. I know I have. Whether its family, friends, ex's, material things, money and routines. Even simple things.
We all do it-but we don't do well is recognize it. And when we do-it's usually too late. I have always tried in the past to catch it before happens. To acknowledge the simple things you have or do at that moment and have that internal thought of how grateful you are. That's all it takes I think. Think about it today-acknowledge something you usually take for granted that in hindsight-you may be lucky to have. Go hug a squirrel?
He leaves tomorrow to head home. He will be packing a new Xbox, a few suitcases of Nike gear, a bag full of kitchen stuff for his wife and the experience of coming across a squirrel. Probably a week he wont soon forget.