For the past 4 years I have subjected my work colleagues to a missive about my personal reasons for being thankful, whether they wanted to hear it or not. This year I have decided to subject you all. The annual missive is about why I am thankful for the opportunity to experience the love and friendship of the people who make up my life and to be able to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves to us every day.

As always I am thankful every day for my companion of over 30 years and my three wonderful daughters. Their love and wisdom continue to guide me.

This year I’d also like to state why I am thankful for those who came before me. To the pioneers and trailblazers and visionaries who have affected my life.

I am thankful for my parents. My parents laid the foundation of who I am, my ethics and my character. They never consciously set out to teach me right from wrong (at least that I can recall) but I have many memories of their righteous indignation regarding hate, bigotry, unfairness and meanness. Their strong sense of family is the reason I am so focused on creating a sense of belonging. We lost mom and dad to illness many years ago, but their legacy lives on with their 3 sons, 7 grandkids and 2 great grandkids.

I’m thankful for my parents-in-law. If it was my parents that laid the foundation for my character, it was Sonny and Katty that showed me how to build on that foundation. Again, it wasn’t any one thing that they did, but the way they lived their lives. It was their hardworking, blue collar, family loving way of life that was a quiet inspiration for anyone who knew them. They welcomed friends and strangers alike into their homes and lives with the phlosophy; “there’s always room for one more”. The best way to lead is by example, and they set an incredible example. Sonny left us a number of years ago, but Katty is still going strong at 87. They have created a wonderful legacy through their 8 kids, 16 grandkids and 5 great grandkids.

I’m sure the elder Kerns’ and Hargrave’s could never have imagined the number of people in this world that they have affected, and affected in a positive way.

I’m thankful for those whom we do not know that have affected our lives. To the researchers and doctors who pioneered the treatments that have saved, improved or prolonged the lives of so many people, including Jeanmarie's operation and my brother-in-law who is currently battling cancer. To those that dedicated their lives for social change that opened our eyes to injustice and hate, by focusing on justice and love. To those who dedicated their lives to educating us and our children, whether in school or in life, and to the many others who we will never know or fully grasp the impact of their efforts.

I sometimes wonder if we fully appreciate the efforts of those that came before us, and if we have the same class and character that seemed to guide their lives. I hope we do.

Please have a Happy Thanksgiving
Peace
Tom
(a.k.a. “TK”, “Hitman”, “Grandpa” and of course “tickles”)