This is my Dad. He's in his mid-eighties and he's doing very well. He still walks two miles most days, reads the New York Times and stays current. He and my mom are coming to my house for Thanksgiving today. So are Belinda's parents. And I'm thankful to have them. When I sat down to write this I thought about all the things I'm thankful for. All the cool photo gear I get to play with. My friends on the Masters Swim team. My (nearly) perfect child. I'm thankful to live in a hip and prosperous city full of interesting people. I'm thankful that I can write even faster than I can think (and you can see how that would be problematic....). I'm thankful that I've traveled enough to know how good I've got things right here in the vast and verdant Visual Science Lab compound and bunker facility here on the edge of west Austin....nestled in the gentle arms of the Texas Hill Country. I'm thankful to my friends who stand by me when I'm serious and when I'm goofy. I'm thankful that I don't have to chose between camera formats; I can have them all. I'm thankful to the Sullivan's who own our local camera store, Precision Camera. They've bailed me out of several big life challenges with grace and amazing compassion. And they are wonderful "partners" in my business.
I'm Thankful to all the people I have coffee with on a regular basis. Primitive rites of sharing are fun and valuable.... Of course, I'm thankful for good coffee.
I'm thankful to the readers of the VSL blog who wade patiently and with forbearance through all the extraneous crap to read the few nuggets of value. And especially to the ones who take time to write nice comments without little fish hooks of snark attached.
And, I'm thankful I was able to finish the five mile fun run today without the need for bottled oxygen or defibrillator paddles.
But most of all I'm thankful to have such a wonderful partner in Belinda.
I hope you take time to think of all the happiness and wonder in your lives. Happy Thanksgiving.
Kirk
I am thankful for having the same understanding wife for nearly 42 years, three perfect adult children (well, almost on both counts), an 87 year old mother who lives independently and unassisted, wonderful brothers and sister who are there when you need them.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving everyone!
Great post, we all have much to be thankful. Thanks for reminding us.
ReplyDeleterobert
Happy Thanksgiving :-)
ReplyDeleteI have a wife who puts up with me for reasons I can't quite fathom; irrepressibly cute 8-year old twin daughters; parents divorced for more than a half-century but both alive and healthy at 80 and 78 years of age; good friends; and a few great bloggers I follow daily.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving to you and your family, Kirk!
I'm thankful for many things, among them is reading your blog. My sincere thanks for sharing it with us. Happy Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteI was browsing through a year's collection of photos I took lately, like you do it with even older ones from time to time, and yes, I'm thankful for all these moments. The people I've met, the places I could visit. The wife and daughter and everyone else who is close. And I'm thankful for this blog which I check daily to read/hear your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteHappy thanksgiving, Kirk - and all the best to you and yours.
Thanks for a great blog. I am so impressed that I have even given you a plug on my own, freshly hatched, free range and still learning UK blog.
ReplyDeleteIt's at
http://margate35mm.blogspot.com
I promise not to steal too many of your concepts and ideas. I don't have the talent or ability yet ... despite being only slightly younger than your Dad!
With great respect.
Col
Your Dad wears cool shades! Happy Thanksgiving and thanks to you for writing one of the best photo blogs on the internet.
ReplyDeleteSaludos
Neil