Thankfulness
27/11/25 05:45
November 27, 2025 (Vol. 19. No. 46) - To be quite honest with you, this hasn't been the happiest of years. I'm not talking about the idiot in the White House or the fact that my favorite teams have underperformed. My focus is on more serious stuff, such as the passing of my younger brother and a panoply of health issues confronting me. On this Thanksgiving Day, it would be easy for me to say "bah humbug" and hold a personal pity party. Simply put, life ain't a Norman Rockwell painting. But that negativity wouldn't accomplish anything and ignores the people and things around me that make truly thankful.Let's start with family and friends. Those are the folks who give true meaning to anyone's life. If you have loving family and friends, then you should consider yourself rich in spirit and thought. There are poor souls out there who are lost and alone. I am thankful I am not one of them. I cannot tell you how exciting it is to see one's children mature and thrive. And, of course, there are grandchildren for whom you can give - and get - unqualified love.
As I approach my mid-70s, I am also thankful for the medical breakthroughs that have transformed life-threatening illnesses to things that are manageable. We are not just speaking of medicines and surgical advances. Because of vastly improved diagnostics, doctors are able to address many ailments in their earliest and most-easily treatable stages. Because of this, senior citizens are living not just longer lives, but are also able to enjoy a higher quality of life. Yes, as I have learned all too painfully, that doesn't mean that there aren't those among us who depart far too soon. But at least I feel that I have a fighting chance to stick around for awhile.
Technology is another blessing. Not only have social media and video conferencing made it easier for me to stay connected within my own social circles, it has also widen my outreach. For example, Facebook has allowed me to reconnect with friends with whom I had lost touch - including people who were in my first grade class in St. Michaels, Maryland. As a grandparent and great uncle, technology also allows me to follow the growth and maturation of people I hold very dear.
I'd like to think that society has given seniors such as myself greater respect than, perhaps, it did with my own grandparents. That may well be because the sheer size of the Baby Boom Generation demands it. Certainly, volunteering for organizations such as the American Red Cross or for some other church-related or nonprofit activity helps give retired senior citizens added purpose during a time when they would otherwise feel rudderless. This period of my life is also a time of reflection. In my case, that has resulted in a renewed spirituality and deeper compassion for those less fortunate.
There's a popular saying that "getting old ain't for sissies." That is certainly true, especially when you remember that no one leaves this planet alive. I have no idea how long this final chapter of my life will last. But I do know that it is far more agreeable when one remembers those people and things for which they should be thankful. That's it for now. Fear the Turtle.