Giving Thanks

Ah, Thanksgiving, one of my very favorite times of the year. Hey, you can't blame me; I'm married to a chef, a

fact that has turned me into a holiday Tryptophan junkie.

But this day is so much more than an excuse to eat too much, and we should all take a minute during halftime to stop and think about what all we are really thankful for, and while I'm sure you have your own list, here are a few things I fell thankful for.

This year, I'm thankful to have a job. Have you seen how many people don't right now? It is scary how many people, not just locally, but around the state and the country have lost their jobs. If you have one, you better hold on to it with both hands. And I'm thankful for the fact that my job has me here in Ashe County. As I have said before, this place is so much like where I grew up it's scary. I'm thankful that I have the opportunity to be your editor. We may disagree, but I think we sort of like each other. Well, most of us anyway.

I'm thankful for the cast of characters that do all the heavy lifting around here and are the real reason this paper is what it is. I certainly couldn't do it alone.

I'm thankful that for once in too long we only have one son in Iraq for Thanksgiving, and I'm thankful for every one of the warriors in harm's way today so that I can have my turkey and football and nap in the recliner.

While you're spooning on the Cool-Whip think about all of them. Don't be sad for them, they don't want that. Just think about them and be grateful for them and maybe say a prayer for their protection to the god of your choice.

I'm thankful that I have been honored with three sons that will go again and again without complaint, because it's what our family does.

I am thankful for three beautiful daughters who make our lives interesting, from time to time, and for the seven grandchildren here and the three on the way.

I'm thankful for my bride (whose name is still withheld for the sake of her reputation). If you hate putting up with me, imagine how hard it is for her. She keeps me grounded and sane when all I want is to find a clock tower and a high powered paint gun.

I'm thankful that I never saved enough money to lose everything in the collapsing stock market. Yes, indeed I am thankful for my foresight not to invest and save, but to spend it as I made it. This wise choice by me has saved me the pains and torments of losing it all as the market tanks and American industry falls into bankruptcy.

I'm thankful that the Oakland Raiders are not the worst team in the AFC West, which is the worst division in the NFL.

I'm thankful for a new Star Trek movie, even if it does come without William Shatner.

I'm thankful that my dogs like me, for toilet paper, the Bill of Rights, the internal combustion engine, the 12-string guitar and that I have somehow managed to live long enough to know how to be thankful and for having a long enough list to only be able to mention a few.

Finally, and only because of space, I am thankful that Rosie O'Donnell has a new show coming on NBC. I think we need to be reminded why she disgusts us so much, and periodically subjecting the airwaves to her particular bag of tricks does the trick.