Thanksgiving 2020

As we approach the weirdest Thanksgiving in my life, here are ten things I’m thankful for.

1. My town, the place I grew up, the place that shaped me and shapes me, for providing seasonal opportunities like fishing in the spring, beaches in the summer, and hunting in the fall; great friendships (more on that below), and a short commute to work. My town is small enough that my small efforts at A Simple Gesture and NSRWA have a good and real impact in our community.

2. I’m grateful for all our friends: we laugh, we make fun of each other, compete, and recreate together. In my Risk for a Rich Life discussion, I conclude that the meaning of life can be found through our relationships. Our friends form the core of our Joie de vivre.

3. This year I have to add our friends who encourage and accept political dialogue. Last Saturday night with a drink in our hands by a toasty fire, our good friend Debbie asked us what we thought of the election and its aftermath; she quietly absorbed our libertarian perspective as we absorbed her visceral dislike of all things Donald Trump. One measure of abiding friendship is the effort required to listen to those with whom we disagree. I’m grateful to Debbie (and several others) who are open to these sometimes uncomfortable but often revealing discussions. “Every time we are forced to move the dial…. we grow.”

4. I am thankful my mom has such a wonderful supportive man in her life. While Covid has curtailed our in-person contact with her, knowing that she and Bill enjoy the quiet routines of daily crossword puzzles, tennis, golf or football on TV, makes their sequestration tolerable for all of us, but mostly for them. Consider the painful alternatives. We attended a memorial service for a friend’s mother last week. In spite of gradual deterioration over this woman’s final months, portending life’s end, the final breath shakes us children to our foundation, no matter the circumstances. Having my mom in our lives is precious beyond words.

5. My Christian faith helps me reconcile our mortality and provides a rudder that steadies me in the chaotic path through life. I applaud the faith mentors like my sister Liz who absorb so much pain of others with only God’s grace to support them. Here too we find meaning in life.

6. I am grateful for the people I work with, dedicated to continuous improvement, challenging our personal limitations, working collaboratively, solving problems. After 40 years I still like going to work, though partly because I’m now in a position that lets me focus mostly on the things I want to do, including teaching and marketing. Have to admit, I’m also grateful to be (almost) done developing professionally.

7. I am amazed and thankful that we live in a country with institutions more powerful and enduring than men. As the Donald Trump Show draws to a close and Team Biden begins building its presidency, I am especially thankful that the country spoke for moderation in 2020. The institutional checks and balances won, limiting the expansion of government, in no small part in my opinion based on arrogantly stated political power plays to pack the Supreme Court and add two states, coupled with disingenuous justification of civil unrest and criminality in our cities. America’s majority didn’t buy it. With textualists protecting our one day vulnerable governing document, the Constitution remains relevant. Personal freedom still resonates in this great country, allowing us all to navigate our own best paths, on our own terms. The experiment in institutional limitation lives on.

8. Our children give us joy in so many ways. Each have relationships with wonderful people, each are experiencing the struggles of early adulthood (SIU), grounded in family traditions while spreading wings for life. Last weekend our older son took the weekend off to assist us with a long list of pre-winter chores at our home in Freedom. The younger son knows he owes us, and our son-in-law and daughter lend their talents on every visit. It’s a team effort, everybody pitches in, making it one of the most family-centric places I can imagine.

9. I’m grateful for our health, for people like Patty (trainer) and a lifestyle that demands physical activity to keep us fit. It’s been said that you don’t appreciate good health until you don’t have it, but I appreciate our good health every day because we can do cool stuff.

10. Most important of all these, Kay: my wife and partner in life and in love for over 36 years, well more than half our lives. Our dedication to each other and our respect for each other is mutual, and seems only to grow with each passing year. When I want to go fast, Kay applies the brakes. When she needs to be dragged into something new, I drag her. As we embark on the next phase, the only big thing we disagree on is the speed; between us, we’ll figure that out.

Happy Thanksgiving to all in this, our Promised Land.