Since 1621, when the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Indians sat down together for an autumn harvest feast, we have set aside a day at this time of the year to give thanks for the many blessings that touch our lives.
Too many times, newspapers are filled with tales of greed and corruption, heartbreak and despair, lawlessness and contempt of civil obedience.
As we look forward to this coming Thursday and a holiday meal spent in the company of family and good friends, here is what I'm thankful for in 2003.
I am thankful that I write for a newspaper that defends the people of this community and doesn't bow to pressure from the political and private sectors.
I am thankful for the men and women of our armed forces who put their lives on the line each day for every American citizen. I would be even more thankful if the leaders in Washington saw fit to bring them all back home to their families.
I am thankful for Children's Hospital and the compassionate staff of doctors, nurses and administrators employed there who have dedicated their lives to helping children in need. There is no shortage of role models in the venerable building on Bryant Street in Buffalo.
I am thankful that the city of Niagara Falls will soon have a new mayor in Vince Anello. There is a sense of optimism about town -- one that runs across party lines -- that he is the right man at the right time for this city. Here's my big piece of the wishbone in hoping this is true.
I am thankful that Assemblywoman Francine Del Monte and Sen. Byron Brown took a lead role in getting the overpass at 66th Street and the LaSalle Expressway named in honor of Jennifer Bolender. I will give even greater thanks if another local family never has to experience the grief that her family has gone through.
I am thankful for the workers at area hospices, shelters and soup kitchens who spend each day of their lives helping the people of our community who are most in need of assistance.
I am thankful that reality TV shows are just about at the end of their 15 minutes of fame.
I am thankful that, in this age of glitz novels, authors like John Updike, Tom Robbins and Erica Jong continue to ply their trade.
I am thankful that Frederick Law Olmsted thought it best to keep Goat Island as close as possible to its natural state. I'd hate to think of it filled with high-rise hotels and tacky gift shops and museums.
I am thankful for the unconditional love shown me by my dog. When the world takes a good, long approach before kicking me in the head, my dog is always there to say, "I'm just happy that you're home."
I am thankful for the teachers in our school systems. If there is a more noble profession, I have never heard it discussed. Thomas Insana, Paul Gromosiak, Brian Sage, Ann McCabe, Thomas Marsh, Kenneth Rideout, Robert Erickson and Stan Petras are just some of the teachers I was blessed to learn from. May their Thanksgiving feast include this most honorary item -- a shiny, red apple.
I am thankful that Mike Hudson and I are now considered among the top purveyors and protectors of the left. We're not, of course, but we'll use the exposure to further the cause of this paper and to raise a little hell here and there. I am thankful that the Seneca Niagara Casino is doing so well and employing so many. Here's a raised goblet full of eggnog to its continued success and a revitalized downtown full of money-spending tourists.
I am thankful that the national search for a leader of the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. turned up David Rosenwasser. I have had the pleasure to work with David as it pertains to the agency's visitors centers on the New York State Thruway and can tell you unequivocally that he is a multi-talented, no-nonsense guy who will help make Niagara County the travel spot that it rightly deserves to be.
I am thankful for Mike and Pat Tarapczynski, who graciously opened their home and hearts to me when I was a kid growing up here in Niagara Falls. Those of you who attended Maple Avenue School in the '80s and '90s will remember Pat as "Mrs. T." She passed away earlier this year, leaving behind a legacy of compassion and love that will be long remembered.
I am thankful for the change of seasons that we experience here in Western New York. Just don't ask me how much I like the seasons in mid-January.
I am thankful for the many wonderful places to eat locally. Where else -- outside of New York City -- can you find such a wide array of bountiful ethnic fare? Is it any wonder that so many transplanted Niagarans lament the limited choice of food options in their current city of residence?
I am most thankful for the love and support of my family. No man is an island and I am fortunate to be surrounded on all sides by people who inspire and support me. Thank you all.
Lastly, but certainly not least, I am thankful for you -- the readers of the Niagara Falls Reporter. You have vigorously supported this newspaper since its inception, and your intelligence and sophistication inspire us to reach for ever-greater heights. May each of you experience a Thanksgiving Day feast that fills your belly and a day of thanks that warms your soul.
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | November 25 2003 |