Thankful November

It’s November—the only month with a day set aside just to give thanks! Whew, we sure need to be thankful more often than that.

I, for one, am thankful we do not have a fatal automobile accident on the front page of today’s paper. This county has lost too many lives in recent weeks to automobile accidents.

We hear all the time that people want to read the “good news” which the paper is always full of, but we find the not so good news is more likely to sell. People will buy a paper to see who was in the wreck…or this week maybe to see who was caught with drugs.

Of course, many of our subscribers, who are indeed loyal readers, want the paper every week…and they may well appreciate good news. But those who buy it at the newsstand have to find something to pique their interest.

Since Evan the intern is gone, Susan Jacobs and I share this space, taking turns writing about whatever is on our mind on any given week—sometimes serous sometimes frivolous.

Some of you may notice that I’m writing here two weeks in a row. That’s because Susan is sick at this writing, and I felt it better not to push her to do anymore than necessary as there is a lot that is necessary.

You see, for example, School Board and City Council both meet Tuesday night. That means two reporters are needed. And, my wonderful daughter, Hannah, is experienced, and will fill in occasionally. But she has two little bitty girls, and it’s asking a lot, I feel.

So, we work, sick and all. Which isn’t good, as then we spread our illness. I’ll take the blame for making Susan sick as I was sick last week. The worst thing is I also made my husband sick, and he ended up in the hospital.

But we are all on the mend now. And, I’m expecting Susan to write a column next week, so I’m going to list some things I am thankful for now, in preparation of a thankful day, week, month, year! It is healthy to feel grateful.

I am thankful for my health…and others who help me be healthy. I belong to an exercise class, and I feel like I am much healthier now that I exercise regularly than I ever was in my younger days. In some cases, I’m even making healthier choices about what I put in my mouth (but not always).

I am thankful for my family—everyone. I don’t have a particularly large extended family, but I am grateful for each person I call family. I realize I am the matriarch of most of my family members, although I’m blessed with three sisters (and their families). My late father still has a brother and his wife who live in Virginia, and my late mother still has an aunt (who actually is only six months difference in age than my mother). I have two first cousins, and several second or third cousins.

I certainly could go on, but I’m out of space. I hope each of you can find things to be grateful for.