You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky?

Yes, that line should sound familiar, and CLICK here to see Harry it again.

That question in the title had to answer with a resounding YES, after visiting a dentist today for the first time in 15 years and finding out that the only cavity I have is in the wobbly wisdom tooth that should come out anyway. The dentist seemed somehow concerned about my general state of health and that I haven't had a medical check-up in like 30 years (they wanted one before my immigration to Canada!), so she suggested in grave tones that she measure my blood pressure.

She sounded like she didn't trust me to make it home without collapsing, so I consented.  She didn't trust  the first measurement, but after the 2nd measurement, she had to accept that I have excellent blood pressure values (don't ask me what they were; that was only the 2nd time in my life that someone measured my blood pressure and all the funny numbers are just gugleyemagic to me).

There are of course other reasons why I feel lucky, or at least more fortunate than others. Having my soul inserted into a newborn baby boy in Kusel, Germany instead of one in Mogadishu, Somalia is right at the very top of the list!  But there are many other reasons to appreciate one's good fortunes.

Taking the SkyTrain and the bus home to North Vancouver from the Denist, I can see some examples out of the bus window.  There are tents in Stanley Park. No, these people are not camping there. Neither are the people under bridges, under concrete overhangs or in raveen  along SkyTrain routes, or in other pieces of wooded parks all over the lower mainland.

I add not suffering from physical or mental ailments and not living in a present day war zone to the list. Not being a member of a visible minority in a culture where that can have unpleasant results also is a bonus. Hard to believe that this last one is still a problem in today's world.  What else?


Most of all, I think I feel lucky that I have a brain that works.  Otherwise I might be one of those retards who already won life's lottery by being born in a 1st world country and because of this considers himself superior to someone not so lucky.  
Yes, those people are mean and despicable, but also frighteningly pitiable.  Can you imagine what life must look like to them?