Waiting in line at the grocery store, I heard a short conversation as two friends greeted each other.

"What's new? asked the guy. "Same old, same old?" he quizzed."Yeah, it's just same old, same old," answered the woman.Both were fairly young. Too young, I suppose, to know that anyone who says life is "same old, same old" is without complaint because that means they haven't been stabbed with misfortune or big problems.When we get older we know life can turn on a dime. We know that life can swing from routine to troubling or even tragic.It's not being a pessimist to say that. Recognizing that life doesn't stay the same forever can actually help us better appreciate the good moments we have before us.If we're smart, we treasure it while we can.A few decades ago when I was facing life-threatening neurosurgery, I vowed if I got through it I would never take one day of life for granted.That's one vow I have kept in a serious way.Now that many years have passed, I've grown much more introspective and appreciative of every little thing in life.I'm at the point where I don't take a moment for granted.You'll never hear me complain about a so-called ordinary day. I'm convinced there is nothing routine about any day I am given.Take today, for example. It's my writing day. That means with deadlines for two newspapers before me, I sit at my computer for hours writing my column along with this week's feature.On writing days, I have to cut out the outside activities that I love. My friends know not to call me on deadline day because I'm wrapped up in what I'm writing.When my stories are in, the big highlights of my day are going to the supermarket for what I need and cooking dinner.Does that sound like a boring, ordinary day?Perhaps to some. But I find myself being grateful for the high I get when I write. With a mother who died from Alzheimer's, I don't take for granted the ability to organize a story in my head and write it in as compelling a way as I can.I don't take for granted being able to shop in a supermarket for the food I want. Many people around the world don't have that option.I know many financially struggling people who find it painful to go in a grocery story because food prices keep going up but their income either does down or stays the same.I am so very grateful we have so many good people who keep donating to food pantries that help the poor.My friend Pat, who runs our local food pantry, keeps telling us stories about how her clientele keeps changing. The surprise was how many are elderly who used to donate food now are among those who need it."When a spouse dies, the other one can't pay the same bills on only one Social Security check, Pat said.It seems that even the ability to a pay a mortgage is something we can't take granted.Lately, when I'm having an especially sweet moment, I hold it close to my chest and think how blessed I am.That happened once again this week when I was waltzing with David. As we were gliding across the floor to the song, "Can I have this dance for the rest of my life," I thought about how very precious that dance was to me.We dance at least once a week. Yet I seldom take one dance for granted.Am I a fatalist to think what I treasure now might not be mine forever? Or, am I a realist who doesn't take a moment for granted?OK, as long as I'm being totally honest about those feelings, I'll tell you one more of my "secret thoughts."If David and I ever have a difference of opinion that leads to hard feelings, I never, ever, let the night go by without holding or hugging him.I know too many people who admitted their last contact with the person they loved remains a painful memory. You've heard the joke about the woman who says she "hasn't slept in three nights" because she and her husband never go to sleep angry.Yes, it's a joke. But it also carries a message. I believe in being aware of the moment. Every moment. I try extracting meaning and gratitude from each moment.Yesterday as I was on my way to a church event with my friend Jeanne and her brother, I thought about what good people they are and how lucky I am to have such good friends in my life.And as I looked around church to see all the people there who grace my life I felt a deep sense of gratitude.Most of the time, but not always, I keep that gratitude to myself because people think you're a kook if you share too much deep emotion.It's a lot harder than one might think not to take a single moment for granted. But I work at it. In the process, I find I put a greater value on each and every ordinary day.It brings home the fact that there is no such thing as an ordinary day.Contact Pattie Mihalik at

newsgirl@comcast.net.