Celebrating with family and friends, overeating, shopping for bargains and endless football games is what this weekend has become famous for. After all, it is the official start of the holiday season.
Thanksgiving has always been a time when we try to make lives better, and reflect on what we have to be thankful for.
I am thankful and grateful for Sullivan County residents and their strong desire to always help those in need. When a disaster occurs we always unite as one big family. We saw that first hand this year with Grandview Palace and Hurricane Sandy.
Our firefighters, ambulance workers, and members of civic and religious organizations continually go above and beyond their call of duty.
We must be thankful to all the members of our law enforcement community and those in the military who constantly risk their lives for us. These people have a spirit in them that words cannot express. Thank you to our hard working underpaid prosecutors who could earn so much more in the private sector. Thank you to all of our hard working members of our Judiciary.
Thank you to our dedicated Sullivan County workforce. The problems facing us are very real, and it has become increasingly hard for people to enjoy a quality of life here.
Although I am often critical of our elected officials and their lackluster performance, I am equally grateful for all they do. I am thankful that our electorate will not allow party affiliation be their determining factor in electing people to office.
I am thankful to be afforded the opportunity to discuss the issues facing us on a weekly basis. Hopefully these columns assist in creating honest dialogue throughout Sullivan County.
What I am not thankful for are those people who attempt to defame and slander me rather than stick to the issues. I guess that is what one does when they are desperate. These people have to look at themselves in the mirror and not me. Nonetheless, when someone pens such a column as this one, you need to have thick skin and let it run off your shoulder.
As family and friends gather during the next several weeks we should also remember that the holidays are not a joyous of time of year for many people. There are those who are alone and tend to become sad and lonely. Depression is known to occur more frequently, as the days get shorter and it becomes colder. We must be thankful to all of the charitable organizations that are there for those in need.
Thanksgiving has become a difficult time of year for me since the horrific sexual assault and tragic passing of my developmentally disabled sister Paula. I pray that “Paula’s Law” mandating surveillance cameras be placed outside of all state run group homes and day programs will one day become law to protect our most vulnerable.
The holiday season is a time we should embrace all fellow human beings no matter their race, creed, color, sexual orientation, or economic status. Let’s be thankful for what we have, and share the joy with those around us.
Kiki, Dudley, George, and Gracie are thankful for their loving home. They asked me to remind everyone to please leave out an extra bowl of food for that stray cat.
Let’s keep the spirit of thanksgiving alive all year long. Enjoy the holidays.