Like a lot of people (maybe even most people), I do my fair share of pissing and moaning about my life, but, truthfully, I have a pretty good thing going here, and have plenty to be grateful for – today, and every day of the year.  I’m really thankful I wasn’t born in Iraq, for starters.  I doubt there’s a family in that country that hasn’t been touched by some horror or another.  The same could be said for the Sudan, Palestine…and, well, unfortunately far too many places to mention here.  Let’s hope the United States can find its way, and start to be a force for good in the world again (yeah, I’d like to think it has been in the past – if not exactly perfect).

I’m also thankful that I came from a good family.  We weren’t exactly millionaires, but we certainly never lacked for anything, and everything my parents did, they did for their kids.  My dad didn’t even buy himself a decent pair of shoes until he retired, and my mom was a working mom way before it became fashionable, so that we could afford all the extra stuff we’d never have had otherwise.  They also taught me right from wrong (not that I necessarily always do what’s right, but I can’t say I don’t know better), and that nobody – no matter what shape, color, ethnicity, profession – is any better than anybody else.  Well, OK, my mom would given a slight edge to the Irish (but then, who wouldn’t).  I like to say that anything there is that’s good about me is thanks to my folks (and anything bad is my own damn fault).

I can’t begin to say how grateful I am for my own family, too – especially for my wife, who for some reason puts up with me, pain in the ass that I am.  I think it has something to do with keeping the Internet going.  And, of course, I’m thankful for having the best doggie in the whole wide world (though he’s not very happy with the fact that I didn’t take him out anywhere yesterday; I’d better get him out today, or there’ll be hell to pay).

I’m thankful for the fact that I’m able to go to school and get my masters degree, too (though you’d never know it, from the way I bitch about it all the time), and I’m really grateful that I live in a day and age when I can sit in bed surfing the Internet on a computer that’s something like 1,000 times faster (and 15 times lighter) than what they used to get to the moon and back, and be connected to people and places all over the world.  People like you guys.

Shortly, this place will be celebrating its first birthday, and I’m thankful that you all have come along for the ride (that includes those of you who are here every day, and have been from the beginning, those that came and went – and came back again – and those that have only fairly recently found us.  And of course those who lurk every day, but haven’t yet said hello).  I’d like to think we’ve all become kind of a family, here.  At times a bit dysfunctional, perhaps (but then, what family isn’t), but a family nonetheless.

So, without getting too awfully sappy here, I’d just like to say thanks to all of you, and to wish you and your non-virtual families a very happy Thanksgiving.

Viva la Tryptophan!