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November 28, 2002

Happy Thanksgiving

A few things for which I am thankful this fine day:

1) The ability to publish this weblog. In the year and change since I began writing here, I've encountered dozens of marvelous writers whose voices have challenged me to improve my own writing. I've had my opinions challenged and have had to rethink many positions I had long taken for granted. Although I don't always agree with those who've challenged me, their writing has forced me to think and write better, and that's certainly something to celebrate.

2) My family. Actually, they're really number one, but I'm just going in the order these occur to me, not in any sort of priority. The support of my wife, Amanda, has been absolutely vital to me throughout the past year, with the multiple job changes and other stresses that have kept everything hopping. My parents have been almost as important in this process, both for their willingness to listen to my complaints for things that are generally my own damn fault and for their untiring support. Finally, my brother and sister have stuck by me despite my own best efforts, at times, to drive them off, and knowing they're out there has always been of major importance to me.

3) My country. Yes, the good old U.S.A. has done plenty of things wrong over the years, and even in the past year, but she's still out there doing her best, trying to protect her citizens and, perhaps, even be a good citizen of the world. What other country on the world would not only permit, but encourage the kind of dissent we see in the blogosphere every day? Never 'my country, right or wrong'...but always my country.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.