There are a lot of things one could whine about these days, and I have done my share. But at the same time I have many, many things to be thankful for and here are just a few of them.
First, I had parents who cared and taught responsibility and right from wrong.
I have extended family who all get along with each other and have been rock solid through the years.
I (we) have great children who turned out very well, to my mind, and grandchildren who are beginning to spread their wings. And a wife I wouldn?t trade for anyone.
Our Free Press staff is filled with folks who have a great work ethic, care about our customers and treat the business as if it were their own.
As a Jayhawk fan I am thankful football is almost over and basketball has begun.
I?m thankful that health issues are in the past?my stents have been working great for six years and I have been cancer-free for three years.
Living in the center of town is a real plus as everything within walking distance. Our town provides almost all of our needs?95 percent or more.
Our church is awesome and is right out our back door.
I have an enjoyable career and love almost every minute of it and the challenges it presents on a daily basis.
I am thankful for all of the travels in the past year that have been enjoyable and safe. Eleven trips in all, plus our grandsons still like to come to Kansas.
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We talked with Alex and Louis on the video chat last week to learn about their recent experience at Atlanta Motor Speed?way. Since they have a friend whose dad owns some taverns in Atlanta, they were invited to go along to an appreciation day at the track.
They each strapped on helmets and jumpsuits and got into a race-car passenger seat, then took two laps around the track with a professional driver at about 160 mph.
I told them I was envious and asked what it was like. Alex said it definitely got the adrenaline pumping. We used to drive 80 mph on the turnpike, or faster, so I can imagine the rush 160 would cause.
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When we were in Atlanta in October, we were walking back to the house with the boys and jokingly said maybe we should attend an open house in their neighborhood.
Louie said, ?No! Don?t move here. We like coming to Kansas.?
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I spent last weekend in Tulsa with brother Mark since I hadn?t been there for some time. And I wanted to hear the band he plays in, Jennifer Marriott and Odd Sheep Out.
They were really good and the guitar player had played and toured in the U.S. with Joe Cocker and Richie Havens. He said it was a great experience. The gig was from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. so I could barely stay awake on the ride back to Mark?s house.
Saturday was a great time, too, as we sat in his living room and watched football all day. The best part was watching A&M beat Nebraska.
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Sunday morning I said I was going to take a shower. Brother Mark said don?t use any hot water and then he laughed.
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A big Dumpster from the city is a great investment. We have been cleaning out all of the junk in our office and have filled it up once and we?re now on the second fill up and will probably go for a third.
