NOVEMBER 24, 1999
 

To many Americans, Thanksgiving is a day of parades and Pilgrim hats, football and family, turkey with all the trimmings -- those hallowed traditions full of love, patriotism, and L-tryptophan-induced sweet dreams. Yet between the forkfuls of stuffing (or during half time, perhaps), it's worth remembering that the holiday is fundamentally about giving thanks.

After all, gratitude is an amazing, crucial emotion. We often get caught up in the gripes and groans and "give-me's," focusing on what's wrong, what we lack, what we want. But gratitude brings perspective. It allows us to live for a few moments in a state of pure appreciation of all we have.

Gratitude reminds us of our blessings: family, friends, community, comfort, health. It reminds us that (TV commercials notwithstanding) most of us possess all of life's true necessities and that, compared to many people around the world, we are extremely fortunate. Indeed, much of what we think we "need" actually consists of luxuries we merely want; recognizing this fact makes eveything we have seem all the sweeter, as we appreciate these gifts fully instead of taking them for granted.

In recent years, Oprah Winfrey and author Sarah Ban Breathnach have helped spread the gospel of gratitude, urging Americans to keep a "gratitude journal." The basic idea is to spend a few minutes each day listing some of the things for which we are thankful -- to dwell briefly every morning or evening on positive events that have occurred and the beneficial relationships we enjoy. Doing so, according to Breathnach (as well as many who have heeded her advice), can be downright life-altering. "Gratitude is the most passionate transformative force in the cosmos," she has written. "If you give thanks for five gifts every day, in two months you may not look at your life in the same way."

In that spirit, this Thanksgiving we at Borders.com would like to reflect for a moment on our own gratitude. In addition to our many personal blessings, there is much for which we as a team are grateful:

• We're thankful that we derive so much pleasure from books, music and film, and we're thankful to have jobs that allow us to share this pleasure with others.

• We're thankful for all of the authors and artists who produce such enjoyable and informative works. Not a day goes by that we don't learn of a thrilling new book or hear a catchy new album, and for that we are grateful.

• We're thankful that modern technology lets us communicate with bibliophiles, music lovers, and cinema buffs around the world at any time of the day or night. We're also thankful that we can make people happy by sending books, CDs and videos to the farthest corners of the globe in a single day.

• We're grateful for our co-workers, who share our trials and triumphs and often bring us great joy and support.

• And, most importantly, we're thankful for our customers, who make all of our hard work worthwhile.

Sincerely,

The Borders.com Team

Think that cruise ships are all about quick jaunts to Acapulco, dinners with Captain Stubing, and guest appearances by Charo? Well, according to Reuters, boat builder Freedom Ship, Inc. is setting a course for adventure with a new ocean liner that will literally dwarf the competition and provide for passengers' every need.

More of a floating fantasy city than a cruise ship, the proposed leviathan will measure 4,320 feet long -- that's about eight Pacific Princesses laid end to end -- and will have a landing strip for jets on its top deck. Freedom Ship's tax-free seafaring metropolis will cruise the world's waters in search of nice weather, strawberry daiquiris, and, presumably, babes. The proposed liner should take about two and half years to complete, and at $8.5 billion dollars the project is worth about twice the gross domestic product of Honduras, where the ship most likely will be built.

Once afloat, the as-yet-unnamed craft will feature parks, theaters, sports centers, nightclubs, condominiums and everything else your average -- albeit incredibly upscale -- person would need to survive indefinitely at sea. Interested? You're not alone: the bold boat builders have already sold 20 percent of the ship's condo properties. Of course, if you think life on the open sea is for you, please note that "1,125 sq ft w/sea vu" will run you about $728,750. No word as to whether that price tag also includes Dramamine...

Neapolitans Prepare to Flee Fiery Flow

Italy's Napoli region is among the most picturesque in the world, as the quiet slope of Mount Vesuvius rises gracefully from the sea. However, what seems a peaceful alpine vista is really a ticking seismic time bomb. After all, Vesuvius is the active volcano that buried the Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 A.D.

Back then, the Romans were unprepared for the cataclysm. As a result, scholars say, at least 3,600 people died -- and Neapolitan authorities are determined not to let history repeat itself. According to Reuters, they're trying to stay one step ahead of the volcano by devising an evacuation plan that will move local villagers out of harm's way in the event of an eruption. Earlier this month, one whole town was evacuated in a "Vesuvius drill" (sort of like a fire drill, only with lava), with the entire population packed off in buses to the distant Abruzzo region.

The recent drill affected only a small percentage of potential volcano victims; in the event of a serious eruption, officials expect to evacuate as many as 600,000 area residents. And they may need to put their plan into action sooner rather than later, as tremors felt on the mountain early last month have raised concerns that The Big One is on its way. With danger lurking in the earth's core, those who live on the magma mountain are pleased that an exit strategy is firmly in place. Says one girl who participated in the experimental exodus, "We're happy. It will come in useful in the event of the real thing -- touch wood."

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