Plenty to be thankful for beyond turkey

I have seen many of my Facebook friends posting daily statuses of what they are thankful for.

I guess the month that plays host to Thanksgiving Day brings that on.

So over the next several inches on this page you will see some of the things I am thankful for in my life of 52 years, 24 weeks and two days.

I know many of you will be able to relate.

I am thankful to have lived 52 years, 24 weeks and two days.

I am thankful to have a loving and caring family.

I am thankful to be married to a wonderful woman for almost 18 years, someone who is my best friend.

I am thankful for four children. Each one lends a slice of pleasure to my life. Four kids, each in a different phase of their life, are interesting to watch as they grow.

I am thankful to be a grandfather, or as 25-month-old Madeline tries her best to call me, Grandpa. Sometimes it’s Gampa, sometimes it comes out Pompa. Any way is fine because there are few joys in life greater than this. Another granddaughter, Molly, is expected in March.

I am thankful I had the desire to leave Canada, come to the United States to attend college and stay here. There is no finer country in the world than the one we live in. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

I am thankful I have grown closer to my Lord and Savior.

I am thankful to live in a country where I can write what I am thankful for.

I am thankful I didn’t fall off that roughly one-foot wide piece of steel we used to walk on as kids, with a drop off of about 75 feet over a canal because this non-swimmer would have missed out on a wonderful life.

I am thankful for David Malone, who pushed me out of the deep end of his girlfriend’s pool when I was 17 when the snorkel I was goofing off with starting taking in water that made me choke, panic and move my arms without any hope of getting out of the deep end.

I am thankful I am not as dumb as I used to be.

I am thankful I had a teacher like Ms. Foulds in English who embarrassed me in class one day. It was her unprofessionalism that struck a nerve and gave me an inner drive to make something of myself and prove her wrong, even though I have not spoken to her since 1978.

I am thankful to have worked at this newspaper for almost 25 years now.

I am thankful for infomercials about hair replacement because I’m getting pretty close to taking those seriously. Actually, I am thankful that I wouldn’t use them.

I am thankful I have coached my youngest son in baseball for 11 years, and many other kids who are now young men. These are memories and people I will hold close to my heart today and always.

I am thankful I have seen the Boston Red Sox win two World Series titles in my lifetime. A lot of Red Sox fans haven’t been so lucky.

I am thankful for what I have and don’t worry much about what I don’t have.

I am thankful for turkey and the turkey sandwiches that follow.

I am thankful for music from groups such as England Dan and John Ford Coley, Player, Ambrosia, the Bee Gees, the Eagles, and for country music today.

I am thankful there are some great minds trying to cure cancer.

I am thankful I am able to distinguish who true friends are.

I am thankful.

Jeff D’Alessio is news editor of The News-Enterprise. He can be reached at (270) 505-1757 or jdalessio@thenewsenterprise.com.