My friends, it is truly a time for thanksgiving in America. I say that with the full knowledge of the fact that this year has rendered us more than our share of dark days. Yet, we endure.
Yes, I am thankful. I am thankful to be living in a country that is bringing us a vaccine for the worst pandemic we have seen in a century. With all due deference to those of Chinese descent living within our borders, and for the millions of innocents living in true oppression under the yoke of the Chinese Communist Party, I declare unto you that China brought us this virus, and the good old U.S.A. is going to kick its microscopic ass straight to hell where it belongs. This in spite of a president, a congress and local officials of all political stripes who do not take mitigation as seriously as they should. I believe that the vaccine, spawned from American ingenuity that emerged from a health care system that incentivizes creativity, will mark the end of this grim chapter in our lives.
I write these words mindful of the nearly 300,000 souls we have lost to the virus, as well as the disruption of countless other lives left in its brutal wake. I am also well aware that we have dark days ahead of us, but I strongly believe that we will prevail together as a nation despite our divisions.
I love America. I love it in spite of its flaws. I love it more now than I did 20 years ago when I basked in a cocoon of naïve assumptions that afforded the illusion of perfection that does not exist. There is nowhere else on God’s green earth that I would care to live as a human being, nor as a blind man.
I am also thankful for an electoral system that is fair and just. Recently, our president has called the integrity of the process into question, not for any valid reason, but only due to a broadside delivered to his massive ego by the voting public. Much can and will be said about Donald Trump’s presidency over the past four years, but whatever you may think of the things he has done or not done, America has engaged in a course correction through legal and legitimate means and we will continue to move forward. Despite what the president may say or tweet, I believe America will have a peaceful transition of power come January. We will do so because of a series of constitutionally guaranteed checks and balances that many of us take for granted or poo-poo with nary a thought. And yes, I include a free press in that equation.
I am thankful for my job. Many people cannot work right now, but this year, I have been blessed by a steady income uninterrupted by the virus. Moreover, I am blessed to work in a job that I love and to work alongside three coworkers for whom I feel a genuine affection that is not professionally compulsory. I am also deeply thankful for our volunteers who have stepped up and given us their best during this crisis. They did not have to stick with us, but they did. God love them for it!
I am thankful for my friends. I am not a man with a large cadre of close, trustworthy confidants. I do not bemoan this fact. I am grateful for the small core group of friends with whom I can trust my life. Thanksgiving hugs to all of you close to me who have enriched my life. If a hug makes you uncomfortable, imagine an elbow bump instead.
I am grateful for Kylie the cat. I still miss Mags every day and will always hold her close in my heart. But Kylie has been a welcome addition to my family for three months now. I say this as she is jumping on the keyboard yet again, trying to get my attention because she doesn’t think that I’ve played with her enough today. BAD KITTY!!!
Speaking of family, I am thankful for my immediate family. I am not with them this Thanksgiving Day, but I am heartened that, with one exception, none of them have been touched by the virus or the resulting financial storm that has swept the country. This is not an early celebration. I know any one of them could contract COVID if we don’t maintain vigilance, but God willing, we will all be together at Christmas time. If not, we will try for next year.
Many of you who read this have likely been offended by something I’ve written. You may think I’m too critical of Trump, or not critical enough of America, or whatever. All due respect…go tuck into your turkey and deal! I am grateful to express this on a platform and in a country that still tolerates divergent viewpoints. Here’s hoping that we continue to live in a society that guarantees the free expression of ideas. If you didn’t like this post, I’ll see if I can get Ben Sasse to write it for me next year
Here’s to brighter days ahead. Happy Thanksgiving, America!
PS: Hey, Rona… They don’t have masks in hell. They don’t socially distance in hell. There is no vaccine in hell.