A Special Reflection on Thanksgiving

On this Thanksgiving, Ulix and I brainstorm who to be thankful for.

Ulix, what are you thankful for this holiday season?

• airplanes
• automobiles
• you, Jonathan
• and you shutting up
• the Sun
• rap music

I'm thankful for

• myself, who did not lose hope and did not give in

You can't be thankful for yourself, Jonathan.

Well, why not?

Because you're supposed to think of other people who have helped you.

I think Thanksgiving is about reflecting on who has been good to me this past year and deserves my appreciation. Someone I should recognize and show gratitude to and not take for granted.

I think it's fitting to thank myself, because the person who has worked the hardest for me, and who I often take for granted is myself.

That's not the way it works, Jonathan.

Okay then help me think of other stuff to say.

Talk about who helps us do the things we do.

Hmm...

• extension cords
• Android tablet
• all-you-can-eat restaurants

No, those aren't persons.

I got it...

• a manager at Lowe's who walked me to an aisle and showed me exactly where a $0.87 adapter was, even though he had too much to do before Black Friday and his staff was taking off
  
• a man flying a sport kite at the park, who put on a special acrobatic display for a little kid when passerby's came up to watch
  
• a young waitress at Souper Salad who attentively bussed my table between wiping down tables and sweeping the floor, spoke to me considerately before taking a plate, looked me in the face and smiled and offered to refill my water... a minimum wage student who worked hard and treated everyone like people, in a place where a bare minimum of work and service could be expected.

You're getting closer, but think of people more meaningful in your life.

I'm thankful for people who don't give up on doing right by people. Who work to standards they hold themselves to, who make the lives of people around them better, and don't see their extra effort as detriments to themselves but as contributions to their community.

You're clever. I suppose you include yourself in that category and have found a generalized way to thank yourself.

No, not yet, Ulix. But I will. I am still a bum and I have a lot of work to do before I am willing to enter that group.

You thought I was going to say my friends and family, weren't you?

Yeah, what about them?

Yeah what about them.