Platitudes (or, thanks for good genes)

Indeed, give thanks. These fine individuals in colorful 1970's attire are four primary reasons you're reading this blog entry:

Grandpa, writer.....Grandma, writer....Mother, writer.....Father, writer.

For many years they all wrote, together, while owning my hometown newspaper.....for which they hired me as an eighth-grader to do high school football summaries. (For the full scoop, ask me about a certain master's thesis....)

My parents sold the newspaper last Christmas--after being in business since 1979--and moved to a new town in central Minnesota. For Mom, this meant giving up the personal column and editorial that were her domain for a good share of those years. Now her wordsmithing manifests in her e-mails, which invariaby start with the phrase, "just a quick note tonight!" and last for several thousand words.

Mom's definitely missed writing for the masses. (I know, I know. I've tried to talk her into blogging....) Which is why I'm glad to see that she put together a Thanksgiving piece and submitted it to her local newspaper. She sent me a copy, some excerpted below. Mom's an advice-giver....unabashed in believing that it isn't that hard to make yoursef a better person. Straightforward, plainly said, hopeful.

Please enjoy the respite from the sarcasm and self-pity usually explored in this space. (And the picture, circa 1979. Mom loves her hair and sunglasses in this shot, as do I. )

"Being a thankful person is really very good for us in the long run and can contribute to better heath and a sense of well-being as we go about our business day after day...."

"Being thankful is really a matter of attitude, I think. Being thankful is not for the self-centered, the ones who think the world owes them everything..."

"Just by saying aloud or thinking a 'thank you' for this or that as we go through our days wil bring us a measure of peace not known when we find ourselves looking for the worst in people we meet throughout the day, when we find ourselves expecting more from people that they can or are willing to give...."

"Being thankful relaxes us, smooths out the furrow on our brows - even makes our cheek muscles relax , which makes our necks feel better, which can't help making us feel happier about life in general, our own life in particular..."

"In these unsettling, worrisome times, finding ways to give thanks can help see us through until things are better."