what else is there?

Mark and I still laugh when we think back to a pre-birthday conversation with one of our four sons. We asked the seemingly innocuous question :"what would you like for your birthday?" After a few moments of contemplation, he replied with genuine concern: "what else is there?"
We immediately panicked - had we spoiled our kids to the point where there was simply nothing left to desire? Did they really have every material want and need fulfilled? Later that day, I made mental note of all the things we deliberately deprived them of: paintball guns, motor scooter, crazy expensive composite hockey stick (well at least for that season)...whew, they didn't get everything they had ever asked for...which meant that the "what else is there" question was more of a statement - "I'm quite content". Turns out, our boy was innocently acknowledging an appreciation for the simple abundance in his life rather than looking for what may be missing. (ok he was young - but pretty darned insightful in an accidental way). After that birthday, we started expressing our appreciation for the abundance in our lives the exact same way: when we walk along a beautiful beach at sunset, we say "what else is there?", when we enjoy a spectacular glass of fine wine with good friends, we ask "what else is there?,when the kids experience a victory in there lives - big or small - we reflect - "what else is there?"... This expression has become our way of capturing special times and defining them as moments of absolute abundance, where we can't imagine needing another thing! This family has had many "what else is there" moments, where we're so overjoyed with what we have in each other and in the fun experiences we share - that we can forget about any other stuff we may want...

I've got to admit though - following the last two parties we hosted, there IS something else: granite countertop, 42" Sub Zero fridge, jennair cooktop with grill and a pair of Wolf wall ovens....let the good times roll - or in my case, steamroll - right through the center of the kitchen. I digress - that kitchen reno is a different post for another day.