This is the one day of the year where we’re supposed to reflect on how fortunate we are and celebrate it.  Honestly, I wish I thought to do it more often.

In a world where a lot of people live in fear, in hunger, or in squalor, my family is safe, clean, and fed.  My daughter is getting a good education and has hopes to be a professional after she gets through university.  In a lot of the places I’ve been, no matter the culture or the religion, she would already have been married off and be living a life of drudgery.  Little Bear is free to be who he is, and who he wants to be, no matter what those around him think.  We are fortunate that we live in an area that has the resources Boo needs right now, and even in this country that’s not a given.

My beloved Irish Woman is still the rock that anchors me.  Without her, I’d be adrift, and I need to thank her for that more often.

For those who can’t take advantage of this day because they’re providing a service to my family, thank you.  I’ve been there, and it sucks.  But please never doubt that we appreciate what y’all are doing, and hope that someday it won’t be necessary.

To the rest of you, thanks for listening to my rants and bad jokes.  This relief valve gives me just enough diversion from life in general that I may actually be considered sane most days, and the people I’ve met through the blogs, forums, and on-line communities are wonderful.

So, please enjoy your day, and, again, thanks.