I am grateful...

for my new washing machine. And, my car. Very grateful for both.
Yesterday a friend from Sweden and I were discussing differences in how long it takes to travel between our home countries and Romania. For Swedes, it's about a 7 hour trip total. That includes time driving to Budapest, Hungary all the way until landing in Sweden. The flight is usually just about 2 hours long. I told her that if I lived that close to my family that, most likely, every month there would be visits. Plus, for $100 round trip for a ticket...seriously, you can't beat that. An average ticket to the States is about $1000 bucks for me. My travel time next Monday to get to the States (in comparison with just 7 hours to Sweden and only a 1 hour time difference) will be about 22 hours straight (that includes a 7 hour time difference).
My trip back from the States a week after that will be about 30 hours straight...the longest I've ever had to travel in one straight shot.
Anyway I was just thinking that we become so much more grateful for convenience when we haven't had it. I don't think I've ever had so much thankfulness in doing laundry as I do now having my own machine in my home. I've never ever said a prayer of thanksgiving every time I've gotten into my car, as I do now having my own vehicle to use here.
The same would be true of visiting family and being with them I think. That is, if we ever lived near each other again.
Washing Machines
Cars
Plane Tickets
Kind of an odd mixture for a post!