Opinion

Still thankful after all these years...

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

It's a thankless job, to be sure, but here's a little something for you all to stuff yourselves with before Thursday's big event ...

Back, after a six-year hiatus, we have another Thanksgiving edition of the things we are thankful for. Above and beyond, I mean, the requisite turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, pecan pie and generous helping of football.

So, before the tryptophan starts to kick in, let's get going ...

We're thankful we live in a place where one minute we're rubbing elbows with Bill Clinton and the next moment we're writing a story about a seven-year-old coloring contest winner.

Thankful to be on a first-name basis with the cops, the judges and the prosecutor -- but just a little bit worried that we're on the local funeral director's Christmas card list.

Thankful for folks like Becky Brothers, Bobby Hopper, Mark Evans, Denny Bridges, Tad Robinson, Russ Hesler and Dennis Weatherford, although we wish we really knew them a little better.

Thankful we live in a place where we can see Jeff McCall running along Shadowlawn, chowing down at Marvin's or filling the TV screen on the Fox News Channel.

Thankful for delicacies like the barbecue pizza at Pizza King, any grub at Mama's, Marvin's, Chief's, the PI, Treasures or The Swizzle, but already longing for those tasty breakfasts at The Monon.

Thankful for Trivia Night at BW3's and prime rib night at the Final Approach.

Thankful for Tigers, Tiger Cubs, Clovers, Cougars and Eagles in any order you choose.

Thankful we didn't decide to get Colts' season tickets this year.

Thankful we weren't responsible for paying Kerry Collins $4 million to play quarterback.

Thankful for the covered bridges we have and the round-abouts we don't.

Thankful that we live in a place insulated from most of the world's evils but humanitarian enough to still care.

Thankful for an amazingly understanding, loving and beautiful wife who only encouraged my return to this newspaper gig, despite our hectic and varied schedules.

Thankful for working alongside Jared and Caine, Lauren and Michael, Randy and Daryl and others too many to name.

Ever so thankful for faithful readers, conscious critters, caring co-workers and anyone else trying to eke out an existence in these trying times.

So please go stuff yourselves. You've earned it. Pass the pumpkin pie and full speed ahead to another happy Thanksgiving.