With Thanksgiving Days arrival,some of us give a little thought to all of the things we have to be thankful for.

I guess that, first and foremost, I'm thankful for an understanding wife and a family of which I am extremely proud. In addition to three fantastic kids (all of whom are in the middle-age phase of life), we have been blessed with a gaggle of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Here I am, just past being a veritable pre-pubescent youngster, and we have a couple of great-grandchildren who have already arrived at that magic milestone of 16. Time does fly, doesn't it? Aaaaarrrggggh!

Second only to family, I feel very fortunate to have been born in America where freedom (though sorely threatened from time to time) is a way of life. Nowhere on Earth is freedomso absolute as it is in America.

Some leadersfrom other countries may condemn America depending upon their cause du jour, but theyre secretly jealous of our democracy.

Leaders of these societies are seemingly unaware or just plain don't carethat the downtrodden of that land wish nothing more than to experience the freedom so many Americans take for granted. Some of my friends who immigrated to America from suppressed countriesseem far more appreciative of our freedom than do many who were born here.

In America, even those who complain about certain elements of our way of life are free to doso without fear ofretribution or loss of freedom tospeak their minds. In some societies, they might be incarcerated or worse for voicing dissent.

OK so I'm not feeling very curmudgeonly today.

Maybe that goes along with my freedom to speak and write whatever is on my mind with only the self-imposed constraint being that of hopefully not causing offense to any reader. Maybe that's why I purposely steer clear of voicing my political opinions.

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.