My 2025 Thankful List

We have so many reasons to be thankful. Here’s my 2025 list.

I am thankful they’re still making new episodes of “The Price is Right.” It is truly TV comfort food. It’s a one-hour daily politics-free zone, and that’s increasingly hard to find.

I am thankful for our election workers. We rarely have issues in my neck of the woods, but on a national level, many of the workers are not looking forward to the 2026 mid-terms. I hope they are able to conduct fair elections, without undue influence and interference. They do excellent work under difficult circumstances, and have done so for decades. In recent years, their integrity has been questioned when the results don’t please certain powerful people. Our election workers deserve a raise, and they deserve our praise.

I am thankful for people who still take pride in spelling and grammar. I had someone tell me the other day that “your” and “you’re” are both correct, as in “Your kidding.” No, their not.

I am thankful I overheard this person in the doctor’s office waiting room: “Well, I still can’t see, and now I can’t hear, but thank goodness they still let me drive.”

I am thankful for Dolly Parton.

Our Tennessee Queen has unmatched talent, energy, down-home wisdom, and generosity. She quietly tosses out million-dollar donations like the rest of us buy Snickers bars. When word got out that she was having medical issues, it set off a firestorm of prayer like no other. She says the prayers are working! Fair warning: if you want to get on my bad side, say something mean about Dolly.

I am thankful that I have finally discovered “dirty soda.” I like soft drinks, from regular “Co-Cola” to Nehi Grape “Co-Cola.” (Where I grew up, it was all some kind of “Co-Cola.”)

Now that I have started mixing in some cream, vanilla flavoring, and flavored syrups, I like soft drinks even nire. You only live once, so each weekend, I concoct a new flavor. So far, my favorite is Peach/Vanilla Sprite. There, I just gave away my million-dollar idea.

I am thankful that my wife gave me a Hamilton Beach breakfast sandwich maker for my birthday. That’s the best $25 she has ever invested in me.

I now make my own Canadian Bacon/Egg muffins like I used to buy from a famous fast food place. I hope they will be able to stay open without me.

I am thankful for elected officials who meet with their constituents, and who answer questions from reporters. Those who do are a vanishing breed, and I appreciate them.

I am thankful that gas prices are still relatively low, while everything else seems to be going up. We may have to use our savings on gas to pay for car maintenance and repairs, and definitely the insurance.

I am thankful to have friends who don’t believe every “medical expert,” Facebook doctor, or conspiracy theory on social media The rest of you, I worry about.

I am thankful for late night TV comedians who capsulize the day’s events, and try to keep our politicians honest. Fallon, Meyers, the Daily Show, Colbert, Kimmel, Gutfeld and the rest exercise their right to free speech, often in clever and informative ways. I use my remote control whenever I wish, and I oppose all efforts to silence these voices.

I am thankful that most of us were taught by our families and our teachers to be respectful of others, no matter their gender, their lifestyle choices, their race, ethnicity, or religion. Good manners, politeness, and respect for others has declined in recent years, but I appreciate those who still practice those traits.

I am thankful that 59 newspapers carry my weekly column. That number is up slightly from last year, proving that I am indeed America’s slowest-rising columnist!

As always, I am thankful for, and honored by, your compliments and your support. I appreciate you reading my books, watching me on TV, and saying hello at the store. I never take the privilege of our friendship for granted. Happy Thanksgiving!