A Time for Thanks

An opportunity to express gratitude.

In recent years around Thanksgiving, I’ve republished a piece I wrote a while back about a cherished childhood memory. This time, however, I figured I’d talk about some people I’ve been especially thankful for over the past year — a year that has been quite trying at times from a personal and professional standpoint. Honestly, the last couple of years have been pretty challenging.

Lots of people have been asking about the status of the next Sean Coleman Thriller. I swear it’s coming, and I actually made some strong progress on it over the summer. But working on a novel (which is always a major undertaking) requires long periods of uninterrupted writing, and life just hasn’t afforded me much of that in recent years, between caring for elderly family members and keeping up with my other commitments and responsibilities. Truth be told, it’s been difficult to keep a foothold in just about any personally fulfilling venture.

But there are people who’ve made things easier, and for them I’m very thankful.

I’m thankful for my wife, and the enormous amount of support and encouragement she’s provided over the years. She’s going through hard challenges with her own side of the family (and has been for a while now), but our mutual backing is helping to get us through.

I’m thankful for our loving kids, now both adults, whose thoughtfulness and eagerness to help in these taxing, logistically complicated times is very much appreciated. I couldn’t be prouder of them both.

I’m thankful for our close friends whose fellowship, perspective, and levity means more to me than they probably know. Laughter really is the best medicine, and you can’t put a price on shared experiences.

I’m thankful for the staff at my father’s assisted-living residence who’ve gone above and beyond to help him through the most difficult chapter of his life. They’ve performed duties he no longer can, served as comforting first-responders to his health episodes, provided him safety and security he’d otherwise lack, and raised his spirits with their charm and attentiveness.

I got a kick out of an exchange one of the young pill-givers had with my father when I was visiting him the other morning. “How’s my man doing today?” she cheerfully asked as she entered his room. “If I’m your man, you’re in a desperate situation,” he effortlessly replied, drawing a cackle.

Little things like that matter.

I’m thankful for the medical professionals (several of whom I see with my father at least once a week) who do God’s work. I’m also thankful for those who’ve contributed to the medical advancements that have helped keep him alive.

I’m thankful for the everyday citizens of Greeley, my hometown of the last 30 or so years, who’ve challenged the stigma created by countless episodes of Dateline NBC by extending kindness and generosity to both of my parents since they moved here five years ago. You’ve given my mother one less thing to complain about.

I’m thankful for my multiple employers who’ve furnished a level of work-flexibility and personal concern that many wouldn’t.

I’m thankful for those who’ve selflessly given me professional advice, and helped me pursue new opportunities for my work.

I’m thankful for my fiction readers, who’ve purchased my books and have let me take them on a literary journey.

I’m thankful for my non-fiction readers and listeners who lend me their eyes, ears, and an open mind. (For those who instead use my commentary as nothing more than a platform from which to assign me false motivations and viewpoints, I’m thankful we live in a country that affords individuals the freedom and luxury of conducting themselves like mindless jackasses.)

I’m thankful for the fascinating people who’ve publicly spoken to me on a number of topics in the advancement of ideas, perspectives, and knowledge.

I’m thankful for these three for all the love, humor, and companionship they give without reservation:

And I’m thankful to God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon me and my family. Through all of life’s difficulties, it’s important never to lose track of that.

Have a very happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Have something you’re especially thankful for this year? Let me know in an email or in the comment section below.

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The Hullabaloo

On last week’s Daly Express podcast, I talked to Walter Olson from the Cato Institute (a libertarian think-tank) about a number of legal, political, and electoral matters.

Here’s a preview (on the topic of ranked choice voting):

You can watch the full video versions on BernardGoldberg.com, or listen to the full audio podcasts on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

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Be Prepared for the Holidays

I'm often asked, "John, what's the perfect gift for a beloved friend or family member?"

And I say, "I think we both know the answer. It's a signed, personalized copy of one of my Sean Coleman Thrillers."

Fortunately, they're available through my website.

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Random Thought

A comfort night.

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Obligatory Dog Shot

Thankful for each other.

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Featured Vinyl

I’ve written a few times before about my love affair with the predominantly 90’s rock band, Sponge. They recently released a new cover-album called “1994” where they take on some of that year’s most memorable modern rock hits, including from Alice In Chains, Oasis, Urge Overkill, Mazzy Star, and more. It’s a fun listen, and I really dig the cover-art.

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That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and now Threads! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Also, if you’re not caught up on my Sean Coleman Thrillers, you can pick the entire series up at a great price on Amazon. And if you’re interested in signed, personalized copies of my books, you can order them directly from my website.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!