Thanksgiving Day 2013

First and foremost, I want to thank my wife for just being my wife. For over 38 years now she has stood by my side through thick and thin. She is truly my life mate, my soul mate, and probably the reason God put me on this earth. I cannot imagine what my life would be like if she were not part of it. I am so very thankful for her

I am thankful for the years I had with my parents. Though they are both gone now, the memories of them, what they brought to my life, and the love they gave sustain me. In the same category I have to say I am thankful for my second mother, my mother-in law. She never really “got” me but she got used to me. She made a lasting and profound difference in my life. She too is gone now but I am thankful for all three of them. So, how is the turkey up there?

I am thankful for having been able to experience the joys of being a father and a grandfather. For all of my children and grandchildren, those who I see often, and those I see not nearly often enough, I am thankful. And that includes not only children, but children in law. You are all the same to me and I cherish all of you. You all help to shape my goals and my ambitions for I never make a decision without considering what the impact will be on you. I am thankful for all of them.

I am thankful for my siblings, all of them. I am so thankful we are not a family divided and that we all live within traveling distance of one another. I am thankful that we are not dysfunctional to the point of disliking each other, as has happened in so many other families I know of. I am thankful that I was blessed with two brothers and four sisters. But we should get together more often as time is finite.

Of course it would not be me, and those who know me would agree, if I did not say that I am thankful for the many dogs that have been in my life. Where else can you get such unconditional love and unconditional devotion? They have never gotten angry with me and have never turned away from me. So I have to say thank you to Bing and Minnie and Flopsy and Schazie and Tina and Britni and Blackie and Bear and Yittle and Rambo and Libbli and Pepper and Darbi. That is a long list, but I hope it is not the end of the list. I am looking forward to my next puppy, whenever that may happen. Okay, okay, I liked all the cats too (just not as mmuch).

Those are my Thanksgiving Day thoughts, what are yours?