Sometimes it’s hard to write a weekly column. I’m either writing Unorganized Territory in advance of some event or occasion—or after the event has passed. For instance, I should have written a “Thanksgiving” column last week, so Cook County News-Herald readers could have read my expressions of gratitude before their turkey dinners. Instead, they will be reading this column at the earliest the day after Thanksgiving.
Since I missed writing about the proper topic last week and instead wrote about Big Brother government intrusion into our lives, I’m going to write about Thanksgiving this week. I’m going to concentrate on the things that I have to be grateful for.
One thing I’m grateful for is that I write a weekly column and not an every-other week essay like our columnists Joan Crosby with her down-to-earth Over the Hill or Sandy Holthaus with her charming Taste of Home. That would be too confusing for me. Since they write every other week, it must be nearly impossible to properly match their musings to upcoming events. Sometimes it works out fine—you’ll read Joan’s Thanksgiving thoughts this week— like me, almost on time. Sandy, however, will be quite belated with her Thanksgiving-themed column.
That’s okay, though—I’ve read it already and it’s a good one, whenever you get to read it.
I’m thankful for these two wonderful women who contribute to our paper and thankful that I get to read their writing before anyone else does. That goes for our “fishing guy,” Cory Christianson, our Whirligigs artist, Kelly Dupre, to Sue and Shelby at the Playhouse and the pastors who offer Spiritual Reflections too. Thanks to all of them.
I’m grateful to all the folks who contribute to the paper—the parents, coaches, teachers and community members who write about or take pictures at “away” sporting events; the people who write up activities that our over-extended staff can’t make it to; the people who call or e-mail us with news tips. We couldn’t cover all the news and events without the help of the community.
And of course, I appreciate our advertisers. The Cook County News- Herald would not have been able to celebrate its 120th anniversary this year without the support of local businesses for all those years. Thank you advertisers for not only using the News-Herald to let your customers know what’s on sale or what new service you have to offer, but for helping us bring the news—good and bad—to readers.
I’m thankful that I get to make a living writing, surrounded by people who also write and design and work to produce this newspaper every week. I am privileged to listen to the click, click, clicking of keyboards around me. It’s a comforting sound.
Of course, I also like the raucous debates we sometimes have in the office over what the county or city should or should not be doing. Or over what photo works best with an article or if a word is used correctly or whether or not wild and crazy graphics should be added to a page. I’m thankful that we can agree to disagree and laugh about it.
And a Thanksgiving column wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t give thanks for my friends and family. I’m so grateful for their patience with my crazy schedule. I’m grateful that they let me drag them to events they wouldn’t normally attend. I’m grateful that they don’t mind—too much—when I write about them in Unorganized Territory.
With that, I’ll end this Thanksgiving column and start working on a Christmas column, so perhaps I can get it published in the appropriate issue. But no matter what the season or holiday, I’m thankful for all of you. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. Epictetus
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