Simple Machines

I am thankful for pop-top cans. Back in the olden days, beverages came in cans that had to be opened with a church key can opener. One hole in the front for easy pouring and one smaller vent in the back to keep gurgling to a minimum. Sounds cool? It was a hassle.
Then came pull tabs, which were a revelation at the time. They did provide endless hours of amusement and craft-making possibilities. Mostly they created a rival for cigarette butts when it came to the most prevalent scrap of litter found on beaches, forests and city streets. Then, in 1975, the pop-top appeared. It came with all the convenience of the pull tab, but kept the tab attached to the can. The litter stayed attached to the can. 
Special thanks go to Daniel F. Cudzik, inventor. Thank you for helping save our environment. 
I am also thankful for the lumber and composites that sit above my family's head as we go to sleep each night. Since 1895, this bit of construction has kept the rain off our heads and the sun out of our eyes. We have shelter, and that is an amazing thing. That roof protects my family and our possessions. We tend to invite friends, family, and the occasional stranger to enjoy the comfort and safety of something under which we can sit, talk, sleep and play the occasional game of gin rummy. It is a place where we can stay until we decide to go out and brave the elements, with the option of coming back to be inside when we get tired or bored of being out in the wilderness. And all the while we could reflect at the distinct lack of pull tabs littering the outside. 
There is so very much for which we can be thankful that it seems ridiculous for this one day to ponder the alternatives: those things that we could do without. There certainly have been buckets and boxes full of disappointments and grief since last November, and I would like to suggest that on this day we take a standing eight count to give ourselves a moment to reflect on the things that continue to work in our lives. Pop-top cans. Roofs. The front door that when closed keeps out all those winds and scary monsters. When it opens, the choice of walking outside or welcoming folks inside. 
I am thankful for the bits and pieces around my life, and tomorrow I wish for everyone to have a chance to enjoy them, if only for a day.