There is plenty to be thankful for today

Published 6:00 am Thursday, November 23, 2017

Today, as we all know, is Thanksgiving; a day when we sit down with family and friends to enjoy turkey with all the trimmings and desserts like pumpkin, pecan, sweet potato and apple pie, and then pile up on the sofa and recliner to watch football or take a nap.

Personally, I’m thankful to have a wife and daughter who have managed to put up with me, my moods and my little quirks for a long time. Sometimes I find it amazing my wife has put up with me for 43 years without once whacking me up the side of the head, although I know there were probably times when she wanted to.

My Tigers have overcome early adversity, adjusted, adapted, turned around and won five games since embarrassing themselves against Troy State.

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As a community and as a nation, when we look back over the year, there are a number of things we have to be thankful for.

We have survived the year without major damage from the severe storms that passed through our area in the spring and summer. Despite the efforts of the Legislature and the still sluggish economy, the city seems to be in pretty good shape and looking to improve. We have overcome several crisises in the city, including the break in the main waterline and the multiple days under a boil water notice.

As a country, we seem to be holding our own in the face of controversy and scandal in Washington and across the country and attempts by hate groups to divide us along racial and social lines.

And let’s not forget the people whose efforts are allowing us to have this time together with our families.

Across the country and across the world, we have men and women at sea, on Air Force and other military bases keeping watch on the world to keep us safe from attack.

Locally, we have police officers and firefighters who are away from their families for the holidays doing their duty and keeping us safe while we enjoy times with our families. We also have city and county workers on call to handle emergencies like broken water and sewer lines, and road and street problems that may arise and affect our holiday.

These folks don’t get the usual greetings we give to our families and friends when they come to our homes. We see the police officers on patrol in their cars and don’t event give them a second glance or think about the danger they could encounter sometime during the day. We see the firefighters performing their usual choices on the holiday and don’t even think they could at a moment’s notice have to put their lives on the line to save someone from a burning building.

This holiday weekend, while we’re out visiting family of taking advantage of Black Friday bargains, think about these folks. If you see them, give them a wave and a smile, or better yet, tell them, “Thank you.”

John Surratt is a staff writer for The Vicksburg Post. You may reach him at john.surratt@vicksburgpost.com.

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

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