Thanksgiving, 2025

Happy Thanksgiving!

I've been writing this blog since 2006, and some of you have been reading it almost since the beginning. 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 working hard to keep it awful. For me, this year the awful things included:

The knowledge that many of my fellow Americans support a president who is a corrupt and self-centered liar, grifter, convicted felon and sexual abuser who proudly and deliberately tramples on every norm of human decency and honor in a relentless pursuit of wealth, power, and revenge;

A Congress more interested in keeping problems alive so they can be weaponized against opponents than in actually solving them;

The sad 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, affordability, and equality of justice depends on one’s skin color, political connections, ability to manipulate the system to their advantage, and ability to pay astronomical legal fees; and,

The reality of a changing climate that is denied by those who steadfastly refuse 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:

Good health, aside from the normal aches, pains, and sound effects common to advancing age. I had a second knee replaced this past summer, and through the miracles of modern medicine and my ability to afford them - as long as the GOP keeps its hands off Medicare - I'm still walking;

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

Three loving and successful children of whom I am proud beyond words;

Six adorable, intelligent, talented, and loving grandchildren;

A large and loving extended family;

A comfortable retirement, at least as long as the GOP keeps its hands off Social Security and my modest retirement investments continue to prosper;

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

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 ... so far.

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