One Man’s Thanksgiving

                A reflection

                By J. F. Kelly, Jr.

                The first documented thanksgiving celebrations in the new world were observed by Spanish and French migrants in the 16^th century and later in the Commonwealth of Virginia as early as 1607 in Jamestown. On Dec. 4, 1609, the Berkeley Hundred Colony observed a day of thanksgiving to commemorate the anniversary of their ship’s arrival in America. It was a rather spartan celebration because they didn’t have a whole lot to celebrate except that they, the celebrants, were still alive while so many of their number had not survived the hardships of hunger and disease. They thanked God anyway. Two years later, the colony was wiped out and many of the inhabitants massacred by hostile Native Americans who didn’t take kindly to these immigrants.

                A more congenial welcome was afforded to the colonists further north in Massachusetts in 1621 when Plymouth Colony celebrated its first successful harvest with friendly Native Americans joining in. Four centuries later, we are still celebrating Thanksgiving Day as a day of prayer and thanks for the blessings this bountiful land has given us. The new nation’s first president, George Washington, formally proclaimed Thursday, Nov. 26, 1789 as Thanksgiving Day.

                It’s customary for families and friends to gather on this feast day to give thanks to God for the blessings he has bestowed on America and its fortunate inhabitants but this year the celebrations for most will be muted as a result of the restrictions on gatherings because of the pandemic. It’s also common practice in commentaries like this to remind readers of all they have to be thankful for. But for many who have lost loved ones, jobs, businesses and homes to the pandemic, it may be a struggle to find a lot to be thankful about this year. This, then, should be a time to reach out to them, to try and understand the depth of their pain and to help in any way we can and there are many ways. Meanwhile, rather than presuming to tell others what they should be thankful for, I’ll just tell what I’m thankful for.      

                First of all, I’m thankful to be alive. Our country has existed for 244 years and I have been a proud citizen of it for over a third of its history.  Austen Chamberlain, the British parliamentarian, used the phrase, “May you live in interesting times.” I certainly have. My family and a few of my closest friends joined me recently to celebrate my 90^th birthday. I am thankful for them. My secret to longevity is simple: faith in God, a loving family, true friends and staying busy. Sometimes, perhaps a little help from Jack Daniels. Also, never stop breathing, if you have a choice, no matter what.

                I am thankful for my parents, brothers and sisters and their spouses. My father, the son of Irish immigrants, worked as a bartender to support a family of seven. He worked all of his life since dropping out of school after the sixth grade. My mother was able to be a stay- at- home mom and was always there for us. They never owned a car or their own home and supporting five kids on one salary was a struggle but all five of us turned out well, even me, with eight university degrees among us. I’m thankful for the Sisters of St. Joseph at St. Peter’s Grammar School who actually taught us reading, writing, arithmetic, civics and history. That left very little time for sensitivity training or political indoctrination. We were taught to feel guilty for being sinners but not for the color of our skin or for being privileged in that multi-ethnic, working neighborhood. They also taught us to respect authority and each other and I am thankful for them, even for every crack on the knuckles with a ruler that I deserved.

                I am thankful, too, for three successful and challenging careers and being continuously employed from high school days until the pandemic forced me to quit teaching ship handling, seamanship and navigation in March. I am particularly thankful for the privilege of serving my country as a naval officer for 31 years. I was honored to command three ships and a naval laboratory and there is no greater privilege I know of than that of being entrusted with those beautiful ships and their talented crews. I am thankful for my dear wife of 65 years who gave up her career so I could pursue mine. She kept our family together during my frequent absences at sea.

                I am thankful for being able to express my opinions in essays and commentaries without being censored, grateful to the editors who accept and print them, to the people who read them and particularly to those who take the time to respond to them. (I don’t always love the responses, but thanks anyway.)

                I’m thankful for all the many essential workers and first responders, especially law enforcement and military personnel who face so many risks to keep us safe. Please thank a police officer every chance you get. I’m thankful that vaccines and promising new therapies are on the way and I thank those responsible.  I’m thankful for Coronado, the best hometown in the world’s greatest country. Happy Thanksgiving and stay well.

November 26, 2020