Thanksgiving, 2024

Happy Thanksgiving!

I've been writing this blog since 2006, and some of you have been reading it for much of that time. You've learned many things about me over the years, one of which is that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. In a crazy world in which we too often focus on fear, negativity, and the material things in life, it's good to have a day on which to sit back and reflect on the things for which we can be truly thankful.

We’re living in a scary time in which it’s easy to be distracted from things for which we can be thankful, because there is so much going on that is awful, and so many people who keep relentlessly reminding us of it (from both ends of the social/political/news spectrum). For me, this year the awful things included:

The knowledge that many of my fellow Americans voted to bring back to the presidency a convicted felon and sexual abuser who proudly and deliberately tramples on every norm of decency and honor in a relentless pursuit of power and revenge;

The continuing reality that many Americans cheerfully accept frequent mass murder - even of  children - as an acceptable price to pay for their beloved, unrestricted "right to keep and bear arms;" 

The return of diseases we thought long conquered, largely because ignorant fools believe weird conspiracy theories and conflate the responsibility for public health with Government overreach and unacceptable limits on their personal freedoms;

A flawed legal system in which the availability of justice is directly related to one’s skin color, political connections, ability to manipulate the system to their advantage, and ability to pay astronomical legal fees; and,

A reality of a changing climate that is denied by those unwilling to see the obvious truth around them.

That all sounds pretty bad, and it is, but on the whole, it’s once again been a good year for me. Although there have been some occasional negatives, I consider myself a fortunate man for a lot of reasons:

Surviving another year. Although Agnes came down with Covid again this summer, safe and effective vaccines* once again made it a nuisance rather than a death sentence;

The patient and long-suffering love of my beautiful and amazingly talented wife;

Three loving and successful children of whom I am justly and endlessly proud;

Six adorable, intelligent, talented, and loving grandchildren;

A large and loving extended family;

A comfortable retirement, at least until the new administration takes an axe to Social Security;

A roof over my head, as long as I keep up the mortgage payments;

Good health, aside from the normal aches, pains, and sound effects common to advancing age, at least until the new administration takes an axe to Medicare;

Good friends (yes, all of you are included);

The ability to write what I wish in this space without worrying (so far, at least) about government censorship;

 

The freedom to worship (or not) as I find meaningful, free to ignore those who insist that their way is the only way and their scripture the only scripture, and that I must follow their path or suffer the consequences; and, 

The good fortune to have been born in the United States of America - a country which, for all its faults, gives me the opportunity to enjoy all of the above.

I have many things to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day, and it's only proper that I should take a few minutes to acknowledge that I am, as ever, most richly blessed.

I wish all of you, Dear Readers, Friends, the very happiest, healthiest, and safest of holidays.

Have a good day. Give thanks for the good things you have and the bad things you don't. 

More thoughts tomorrow, when we name the On-Crack Ass Clown for November ... see you then.

Bilbo

* Yes, RFK Jr, I'm talking to you, you schmuck.