As the short work week winds down, offices close and schools dismiss, it’s clear that most people have already checked out mentally on all things not pertaining to food, shopping and football. That can only mean one thing – the Thanksgiving holiday is once again nearly upon us.
Let us take this time to pause and review some of those things for which we’re most thankful – some serious, some not so much, but all so universally relatable …
I’m thankful for Black Friday TV specials, which have us pondering possible replacements for the flat screen in the basement that just quit working. Three days living with a tween who suddenly can’t play X-box is enough to make you want to go out and buy a new TV RIGHT NOW!
I’m thankful for remote start on the truck we bought earlier this year, which came in handy for the first time during the recent cold snap.
I’m thankful that the builder who constructed our home made the garage just barely deep enough for us to actually get said truck in the garage when we really, really need to.
I’m thankful for my health and that of my wife and children. From three relatively routine pregnancies through the first 11, 9 and 7 years of their respective lives, we’ve avoided major illness and even broken bones. Not all children are so lucky.
I’m thankful that less than a year remains in the ever-increasingly more ridiculous 2016 presidential race.
I’m thankful for the turkey currently defrosting in the garage fridge. It will be stuffed with onions, celery, apples and beer and slathered with butter and spices before smoking for about 10 hours on Thursday. This will be the second straight year I’ve smoked a Thanksgiving turkey, with everyone hoping for a repeat of last year’s succulent showing. Of course, like last year, we’ll also have my brother-in-law’s deep-fried version and my mother-in-law’s traditional oven-baked one too, in case things don’t work out with the smoker.
I’m thankful for the Weber Smokey Mountain Smoker my wife bought me for Christmas two years ago, enabling me to smoke a turkey, in addition to the briskets, pork shoulders and ribs that have preceded it.
I’m thankful to be so fortunate as to know that we will have no less than three Thanksgiving turkeys.
I’m thankful for the kegerator my wife bought me for my 40th birthday, allowing for cold tap beer at hand whenever we’d like, beer that amazingly always seems to pair perfectly with smoked meats.
I’m thankful for a loving wife who thinks to give thoughtful gifts like smokers and kegerators.
I’m thankful to still be gainfully employed at a job I like. Seemingly every day brings another story about workers being laid off or bought out by the hundreds. There’s never a good time to lose your job, but right before the holidays is especially unfortunate.
I’m thankful for the ice cream my wife just brought me, providing a welcome sugar rush and creative boost during the writing of this column.
I’m thankful to not live in an area where gun violence is a way of live for us and for our children.
I’m thankful to instead live in a city with high schools ranked in the top 6 percent in the state, according to U.S. News & World Report.
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I’m thankful for silly YouTube videos, like one of cats being freaked out by the sight of cucumbers.
I’m thankful for what was easily the most rewarding youth sports season of my life – as coach or player – with a tremendous group of boys who won our Little League regular-season championship this summer.
I’m thankful for three kids who love sports as much as I do, including my daughter who remains undefeated through 11/2 seasons on one of her basketball teams and also enjoyed an undefeated softball season with many of the same teammates.
I’m thankful that the Cubs’ rebuilding plan finally seems to be bearing fruit, putting six straight losing seasons behind them with this year’s 97-win team that made it to the National League Championship Series.
I’m thankful that next year’s Cubs team will likely be even better.
I’m thankful that the new “Star Wars” movie is finally coming out next month, regardless of whether I actually intend to see it.
I’m thankful for the friendship of countless neighbors who’ve become like family to us.
I’m thankful for our actual family and in-laws, without whom we wouldn’t be the people we are today.
I’m thankful that my daughter chose to participate in Mythology Day at school this week, though I’m still not convinced that’s a real thing.
I’m thankful that most of the leaves in our yard miraculously made it to the curb somehow for collection before last weekend’s snow, meaning they won’t still be sitting there on our lawn when the spring thaw finally hits next June.
I’m thankful that the snow we got here in Naperville last weekend was only about 5 inches, and nothing approaching the foot or more that had been possible.
I’m thankful that no one in my home watches any television shows with the word “Kardashian” in the title.
And I’m thankful for you and all of your blessings this season.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Twitter: @RobManker
Rob Manker is a freelance writer who lives, works, parents in Naperville.