A couple weeks ago, Eli wrote in his column about receiving some very nice notes from readers. It must be contagious since I found myself in possession of two handwritten missives over the past week or so. Handwritten! That is a lost art for sure.
One note was sent to me at school from a WEM fan who wanted to express thanks for the play-by-play I had done for the basketball game between WEM and NRHEG. She enjoyed the dialogue and how it helped her to keep track of what was happening. Another note was mailed to the paper commenting on a recent column and made me blush with the nice things said.
I am thankful when other people are thankful. There is not a need to be noticed when I perform one of my jobs, but it’s doubtful there are any of us who are not appreciative when someone says something kind. Allow me this space to show some of that appreciation. After all, that has been my New Year’s resolution, and the past couple weeks my column hasn’t been very happy.
Thank you to those who remain on the front lines of the pandemic. There is a feeling of relaxation as vaccines are injected and restrictions are loosened, but we’re still seeing infections and deaths every day, so we’re not out of the woods quite yet. With these new, infectious variants, it wouldn’t take much for an outbreak to occur in our area. So those folks who continue to work in the medical fields cannot be forgotten.
Thank you to the vaccinators. Each time I got a shot, the people involved were very pleasant, even though they had been at it all day. I assumed there were smiles under their masks as we engaged in jovial discussion. It must be a stressful job to make sure ducks are all in a row and things are done right so people can reach immunity.
Thank you to the workers at the grocery stores. Any time I’ve walked into Wagner’s or Lerberg’s or Hy-Vee throughout this dismal time, pleasantness has reigned. A year ago, people were hoarding and fighting over basic supplies, but I’ve continued to see helpful smiles in every aisle as I shop from week to week. I’m also thankful that I can now use my reusable bags again! I hate having all those plastic bags around, and my reusables were feeling forgotten.
Thank you to my co-workers at school. It’s been a tough year, just as it has for so many other occupations. We’ve had to lean on each other (metaphorically since we’re still social distancing) more than usual as we keep facing changing expectations. I’ve learned not to get too used to any particular method of doing something since it will likely change.
Thank you to those who continue to follow the guidance from medical professionals. Most of my students have been great about masking and trying to avoid clusters. Many of them are appreciative of being in the building five days a week again and they don’t want to ruin it. None of us like to wear masks, but it’s best to do so until and unless we meet guidance that says we don’t have to.
Thank you to Governor Walz and other decision-makers in St. Paul. I realize that might not be the most popular line to some people, but as I look back at the past year, it seems like some decisions that raised a lot of ire were, in retrospect, the right ones. Minnesota has a much lower rate of deaths from Covid than our neighbors, and our populace is getting vaccinated much more quickly than many states. I haven’t agreed with everything the governor has said or done, but it’s been a difficult job.
I’m thankful to our local elected officials for the work they’ve done over the past year. From city government to school board, we seem to have people in place who care about their constituents and want the best for the most people. Again, not every decision is popular, but they seem to be made with the best interests of others in mind. Thoughtful dialogue has been seen at many meetings I’ve either attended, streamed, or read about. Maybe our state and federal officials should take notes.
I’m thankful to my wife Michelle. As mentioned, it’s been a very tough year at school, and I’ve come home way too many times with stress and anxiety oozing from my pores. Michelle has always been willing to listen and let me blow off steam. She’s also been supportive when I just need some time to myself to work through things.
I’m thankful to all the people involved with extracurricular activities at school. When I feel stressed out, the best cure is officiating or announcing a ballgame. It’s been a tough year to coach since those folks have so many extra protocols they have to worry about in addition to the core job of helping the kids get better at the activity. We made it through the winter season, amazingly, with very little disruption!
And I’m continually thankful to all of you for reading from week to week. It means a lot that people keep wanting to read whatever drivel I put out for the week, even if it might not be a topic in which they’re interested. I’ll keep plugging along the best I can; I hope you will in your life’s activities too! I’m thankful for all of you, and I know there are others thankful for you as well!
Word of the Week: This week’s word is dogged, which means stubbornly determined, as in, “The columnist was dogged about completing his work for the week, even if a topic eluded him at first.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!