A few months ago, I wrote about the dead possum that died under our house the day before Thanksgiving, its mephitic miasma threatening the holiday meal. Until a local pest control company saved the day by locating and removing the noisome decedent, I had assumed it was a dead rat in the wall. The same day, by coincidence, my Christian Scientist friend Virginia, who likes to send me inspirational items, e-mailed me an article about boosting your gratitude by adding the words “well, at least it wasn’t …” when things don’t go as planned.