Gratitude

Thank you, Mother, for giving me life, and for demonstrating by action (if not always by word) that we each have to figure out our own way in life.

Thank you, Father, for giving me life, and for keeping enough distance between us that I did not become consumed by your anger.

Thank you, my brother Joe, for often guiding our family in the absence of our father.  Although you helped teach me to be extremely judgmental, later in life you demonstrated a better way.

Thank you, my brother Tom, for teaching me that life isn’t all roses, but for nevertheless often taking an interest as I struck out in adventures in my Pollyanna naiveté.

Thank you, my sister Janet, for trusting in me and believing in me from our mid-teens until our mid-thirties.  I may not ever know what happened after that, but I am confidant that you are living your life the best you can.

Thank you, Jule (Danny), for teaching me that to love is always better than to obey.

Thank you, Mr. Andrew, for recognizing enormous potential in me.  Because of you, sixth grade was a truly phenomenal year.  It was the only school year in which I did not miss a single day.

Thank you, Mr. Snapp, for making Algebra the easiest class that I ever took.  Among other things, you demonstrated what a computer was a decade before most of us ever got to see one.  You changed my life.

Thank you, Mr. Savage, for asking me a question that I never, ever forgot.  I still cannot answer the question, nor do I expect that I ever will.  Your goal:  “To teach you [ninth-graders] how to think."  Eventually (forty years later) I finally started thinking for myself.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thank you, Roger, for a bond of friendship that has never been matched.  I am so sorry for being such a judgmental jerk.  We met because of our shared religion.  Interestingly, it was that same religious fanaticism created distance between us.  I saw black-and-white, you saw shades of grey.  Your much-better-balanced view has served you well.  The older I get, the more I understand your wisdom.  You are a truly good man.

Thank you, Jerry, for believing in me, many times, in many ways.  I judged you harshly, too.  Thanks for not killing me.  (I know you never would have, but you surely must have wanted to…many times.)

Thank you, Brenda, for being my anchor for 36 years.  It never was about who was “right” and who was “wrong”.  I wish I had recognized that decades ago.  (I wish you could see it today.)  We produced four beautiful children.  Today, you are very happy with your life, and I am very happy with mine.  It just doesn’t get any better than that.

Thank you, I. V. (Lee), for believing in me in a way that nobody else ever has.  More than once you came to my defense when congregation “authorities” attacked.  I was devastated when they ruthlessly turned on you.  You are a truly great man.

Thank you, Bruce, for being such a dear friend.  You tried to teach me to choose my battles.  You showed by word and action that the real pleasures of life are all around us, all the time.  We had great times together!  Then, you died so young.  I realize more and more every day what a truly wise person you were.

Thank you, Christopher, for showing me that life needs to be enjoyed for what it is…and (unfortunately) for demonstrating the need for balanced self-restraint.

Thank you, Diana, for showing me that creativity often trumps logic…and for trying (when you were in your teens) to teach me that none of us share the same reality.  (I really thought you were loony-tune.  Today, I realize that it was I who did not have a clue.)  You have so much more potential than you realize.  And, thank you for the sweetest granddaughters in the world!  When they recognize their own value to the universe, they WILL do great things.

Thank you, Tonya, for being Daddy’s little girl.  You are a living demonstration of almost-unconditional love.  More than any of my other children, you have been a mirror of my own life.  I have deep love (and compassion) for you.

Thank you, Julie, for having the fortitude to live your own life, and for doing it in a mostly-constructive way.  Keep charting your course, making adjustments as needed.  Thank you for my grandsons, who are both very strong, but in totally different ways.

Thank you, Mark, for simply being you.  You emulate Jesus' love of people in a wonderful way.  I have no other friend who is so important to my life.  You taught me the meaning of unconditional love.  Stop doubting yourself; you are the “real deal”.

Thank you, Randy, for believing in me for as long as you felt that you could.

Thank you, Laura, for your uncanny perception.  I do not believe that anyone has ever understood so quickly what was missing in my life.  You have a gift.  I hope you dance.

Thank you, Diana, for being the easiest person in the world to talk to.

Thank you, María Isabél, for serving as my guide (and so much more) during my visit to Mexico.  So far, that trip has been the last “great adventure” of my life.

Thank you, Lynn, for helping me to be more receptive to ideas that I would have flatly rejected only a few years ago.  Because of you I doubt a little bit less, and believe a little bit more.

Andy: Oh…I don’t know, Barn.  I guess it’s a time like this when you’re asked to believe something that don’t seem possible.  That’s the moment that decides whether you got faith in somebody or not.

Barney: Yeah, but how can you explain it all?

Andy: I can't.

Barney: But you do believe in Mr. McBeevee?

Andy: No... no... no.  I do believe in Opie.

(Click here to watch the scene.)