For what we have received…

What do you think of when you hear the word “Thanksgiving”?

Turkey, probably. A family meal with all the trimmin’s. The historical minded might think of Pilgrims and Native Americans, while the thoughts of more contemporary types might turn to Black Friday sales or football.

How many readers thought first of all about giving thanks?

But giving thanks, of course, is quite literally what the day is named for. Accordingly, we have decided to take a break from kvetching in the editorial space, and enumerate some of the things about our community and environment for which we are especially thankful.

We are grateful to every one of our neighbors who stood up and ran for public office in the recent elections, whether they won or not. Even those who lost succeeded in making this a democracy.

We are thankful that Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton have now joined other leaders, like New York State Senator John Bonacic and U.S. Congressman Maurice Hinchey, who have fought the proposed New York Regional Interconnect power line from the start. And, of course, we continue to be thankful to all the local grassroots groups who have been fighting the power line all along, with a special nod to the Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition.

We are grateful to our neighbors the small farmers, who continue to maintain much of the land around us in a condition that is both fruitful and beautiful, against enormous odds.

We rejoice in the resurgence of the bald eagle.

We are grateful for the many local forward thinkers who are making great strides in green planning, from groups like the Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Development and its educational efforts in the area of sustainable alternative energy sources, to municipalities like Sullivan County and Forestburgh, NY that have passed resolutions to reduce their own carbon footprints.

We thank those who serve their communities by fighting fires, feeding the hungry, supporting the public hospitals, working for social justice and much more, without monetary recompense.

We thank the men and women who have put their lives and health at risk by joining the armed forces, many of whom will be abroad under fire this Thanksgiving, and the families who wait for them here at home.

We are grateful for you, our readers, who inform us, chastise us, provoke us to thought and keep us honest—not to mention keep us in business.

Here are some of our readers’ thanks.

Carol Foresta of Kenoza Lake, NY, writes:

“I am grateful that I live in a country which is diverse because it has been built by immigrants. I am grateful to have the opportunity to learn from my family, friends, co-workers and neighbors, and to benefit from their wisdom. I am grateful for the opportunity to work for peace and human rights for all people.”

Mickey Gulino, of Beach Lake, PA, writes:

“My family and I are very thankful to all our family and friends that helped us survive and rebuild our home after the river flood of 2006. After extension renovation, we moved back in last December. God works small miracles. We even got to throw out a lot of ‘stuff’ we shouldn’t have been saving.”

And Sheila Dugan, of Milanville, PA, expressed her thanks in the form of the following poem.

Thanksgiving Traditions

(Grandmothers’ Tale)

Such high hopes for Thanksgiving,

Though the turkey is always dry.

Not such a disaster, until we begin that deep sighing again.

Happily a small child glides into the room

And deftly braids our hair. It was long and blond then

Gleaming in simplicity, hanging loose—

We stop ourselves mid old complaint; the girls utter

An homage to the turkey as they sit.

Well, another good Thanksgiving,

A dry but tasty turkey—veggies, lots of gravy on the dressing

And the pie! Let us go now to the kitchen and wash up

While we read aloud the Maude translation of “War and Peace.”

The holiday is rapt with anthropological delight.

We feel closer to our children’s thoughts today.

Ah, tradition! Such an easy place to be!

We are still the parent unit, so “uncool”

But don’t they just love to see our real Self become Missus Thanksgiving!

Playing Scrabble now, before bedtime, clever girls

All praise each other’s seven-letter words,

Replacing rivalry with budding sibling pride.

We sleep the sleep of all Thanksgiving dwellers,

As visions of Christmas dance sugarly behind our eyes.

Also in this issue:

• Tweaking the FFMP to save the trout fishery

Dr. Punnybone

Freak Accident