CHRISTINE PETERSON: What are you most thankful for?
| Thursday, Nov 12 2009 02:58 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Nov 12 2009 02:59 PM
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I was never subjected to the Thanksgiving tradition by which family and friends, gathered around a table with enough food to feed an army, were to say what they were thankful for that year.
Sure, I had seen that scenario played out a ton of times on television, and heard about it happening in the homes of friends.
Luckily my family just said a prayer thanking God for the gifts before us on Thanksgiving Day, just as we did before every evening meal.
Pretty simple. No pressure.
In later years I continued to avoid the "what I'm thankful for" tradition by volunteering to work Thanksgiving Day. It wasn't a completely selfless act (don't tell my colleagues) -- it was part of a strategy to ensure I had Christmas Day off, which was much more important to me.
And working Thanksgiving Day -- and writing stories of people partaking in free meals generously prepared by local non-profits and their volunteers -- served as a pretty good reminder of the fact I have a lot for which to be thankful, even if I forget that sometimes.
I didn't have to answer "the question" when I wasn't a guest at a table. I just gently posed it to various people who were truly grateful for a holiday meal, took down what they said and crafted it into a news story.
But what, I thought, would I say if I was asked to respond to "what are you thankful for?"
My job, for one. You can't take for granted in this horrible economy the opportunity to work, to pay the mortgage, to do nice things for others and still have a little left to give to charities that tug at your heart.
My cats. No kidding. I never knew the joy pets could provide until adopting Tiger the Wonder Kitty from the Bakersfield SPCA two years ago. I added to my happiness with the adoption of Tucker a month ago. Yes, my friends have graciously listened to the tales of these two guys in my life.
Lest you think I forgot, of course I am thankful for my friends and family, including my brother-in-law who became part of our family this summer and adds to my sister's joy, and thus mine and my mom's.
Enough about me.
We'd like to read your stories of what you are most thankful for this Thanksgiving, and why. We plan to publish as many as we can in Thanksgiving Day's newspaper.
Nothing is too inconsequential.
Your job. Your good health. Your new spouse. The addition of a child through birth or adoption. Your survival despite a difficult disease. Your 10-pound weight loss. The time you carve out each Saturday to read a book. The days you volunteer.
You never know when you might be called upon to share your story at the dinner table, so prepare now!
Here's what we need from you:
What you're thankful for, and especially why, summarized in no more than 150 words. Tell us your story. Include a photo of yourself if you can.
Please include your name, which will be published, and a phone number, for verification purposes.
Send your thoughts via e-mail to local@bakersfield.com with the subject line "Most thankful for" or mail them to me, Christine Peterson, The Bakersfield Californian, P.O. Box 440, Bakersfield, CA, 93302.
We'll consider for publication any submission received by Tuesday, Nov. 24.
Hopefully, by reading each other's stories, we'll all be a little more inspired and thankful for what we have, who we know and the opportunities we've been given.
These are Christine Peterson's opinions, not necessarily The Californian's.
