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
