"DID YOU FIND EVERYTHING YOU NEED?"

As I was standing at the check-out in my local grocery store the cashier asked, as they all seem to do, "Did you find everything you need?" My first reaction was to wonder what would happen if I said no? What if I then said, "I wandered up and down aisle 7 for 10 minutes and could not find an extra large jar of self esteem anywhere." What would she do then? Upon a closer look at her I think to myself, "Well, she's about 12 years old and not paying attention anyway." So, I respond with my usual quippy "Yup.", pay for my stuff, and head out to my car.

As I'm driving home the phrase pops up in my mind again. Do I have everything I need? It's December 31, another year has gone by, perhaps time for a little self reflection. I don't do resolutions but I can do a little thinking.

Am I financially wealthy? Nope, not by a long shot. But I do have a job I like, I have a roof over my head, a trunk full of groceries, and a tank full of gas. Retirement will probably involve keeling over dead at my desk or living out my days in one of my sons spare rooms, but I'm okay with that...sorry boys.

Am I healthy? Yes, thank goodness. I'm certainly not as fast or strong as I was 30 years ago. There are bendy parts that are starting to make weird noises as they go about doing bendy things, stretchy parts that are not stretching quite as far as they used to, and aches and pains that seem to pop up out of nowhere for no darned good reason. But, overall, still trucking along.

Am I lonely? Hell no! I have my lovely wife, two fine boys with their lovely wives, my parents, nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews, in-laws, out-laws, and a passel of good friends. As a matter of fact, I could do with a little alone time.

At this point, I pull up to the house with a bit of a grin on my face. I haul the groceries into the kitchen and proceed to start putting them away. The lovely Explorer pops in, surveys the pile of food, and proceeds to help. I stand in the middle of the kitchen, spread my arms wide and proudly proclaim "Sweetie-Pie, I have everything I need!"

She smiles up at me and says "Where's the milk?"

Shit.