Life - filled with its ups and downs, the level plains which lie between;
The rain without which there would be no flowers;
The valleys where strength and supplies are found to climb to the mountain tops;
Health - though fraught with issues and concerns with which I must daily battle;
Family - who bring joys and tears, but with whom I could not live without;
Sons - those offspring who carry on and outshine the man who was their sire;
Granddaugters - who are beautiful, bubbly, putting a smile on my face even in the darkest moments with a look;
Daughters-in-Law - who put up with the "Old Man" and don't fuss too much when their husbands stay in touch;
Mom - who may not always agree with the choices, decisions I make, but is always there to support me as her son;
Dad - who often is on opposite sides from where I stand;
Siblings - who bring the tussle and tumble at times and the closeness and connectivity that none else can know;
Ex-Wives - without whom I would never have known the joy and love of my two sons;
Frankie and Gizmo, the "boys" - who provide companionship and protect "Daddy" when Iohn is at work;
My Partner Iohn - who has put up with me through good, bad, sickness and health for nearly nine years now;
Real Life Friends and Acquaintenances - who have shown up at my door when unexpected, but at the right moment;
Online Friends - some who have been angels in some of my direst moments over the past two years when I felt I could not carry on;
The Community of Farmersburg - which has taken in "strangers" and accepted us as their own in spite of our differences;
Our Nation - though battered and torn at times, though emeshed in family feuds at times, yet still the most free and greatest light of liberty in the world today;
God - for sustaining me thus far.
On this Thanksgiving eve, I send out my wish to one and all for a day of reflection, a time with family and friends, a day of peace, love and joy before the madness of shopping fever takes over.
May you find that no matter your situation, station in life, health or wealth, there is always something to be found for which to be grateful.