What Could You Do Without?

“Shout, shout, let it all out. These are the things I can live without.”

That’s the only line he knew, so he just repeated it incessantly. I chuckled and then asked him. “So what are the things you can live without?”

He shrugged. “Probably lots of stuff.”

I was surprised by that statement. Usually he thinks he needs more stuff, not less. “Like what?”

“I don’t know. Can’t think of anything at the moment.”

That’s what I get for trying to turn a song into a teachable moment, I guess. But it got me thinking a bit. What kinds of things can I do without? Well, after our week of 100+ weather and a broken A/C — I’m glad that I don’t have to do without A/C anymore.

A friend of mine mentioned on Facebook that she her dryer was broken. I’m glad I don’t have to do without that. Yes, 100 degree temps would get the clothes dry quickly, but I can’t even leave lawn chairs out for one day without having birds pooping on them. Ick.

Today I woke up to my husband shouting, “Oh, no! The toilet’s flooding!” Ugh. Another sewer line backup. We had one a few years ago and it’s pretty disgusting. I don’t want to do without toilets.

So, what CAN I do without? Maybe I’m a bit like my son. I can do without lots of stuff, but it’s hard to come up with specifics.

I suppose I could do without people being angry or disappointed with me. I could do without stress, sick kids or aphids in the rose garden. I could take a pass on scrubbing toilets and finding spiders in the bathtub. Camping in the rain, bathroom scales and finding unidentifiable fuzzy things in the back of the refrigerator. Oh, and sugar ants. I have a horrible aversion to ants in my house.

But, I know in the grand scheme of things, these are minor annoyances. Most people in the world would give their eyeteeth to switch places with me. They would love to have a refrigerator so full of food that items can get lost in the back of it for months. They can’t imagine growing something as frivolous as roses rather than rice or coffee beans. I know there are parents out there who would gladly accept my kid’s stomach bug over the terminal disease that is slowly stealing their own child away.

In reality, I could do without a lot of the “extras” that our American society provides. So, rather than dwelling on what I can do without, I think today I will try to focus on being thankful for what I have.

Like the plumber… He’s on his way. Thank you, Lord, for Rooter King!