Burke: A challenge, but cast about for what you’re thankful for

Published 1:30 am Monday, November 21, 2022

By Tom Burke / Herald columnist

So let’s find a big, comfortable overstuffed chair, take a deep breath, wrap our paws around a steaming mug of tea with honey (or a dram of single malt scotch, neat; an Irish whiskey, rocks and a splash; or café-au-lait, via some Bailey’s Irish Cream. And then, starting with our knit-and-furrowed brow and working south, relax, muscle group by muscle group, right down to our tightly clenched little piggies and focus on all that we haves o give thanks for, from friends and family to the bounty of the Thanksgiving feast.

If. If only. If only it were that simple.

Because in today’s world it ain’t that simple, not any more. At least not for me. (And those internet lists of things to be thankful for, highlighting inanities such as “sunshine, electricity, alone time, and email” just ain’t cutting it.)

No, for me it’s giving thanks that all our kids and grandkids are healthy and mostly winning at soccer and football and doing well in school, as are we — healthy, not winning at soccer or playing football or doing well in school — but others close, and not so close, can’t do the same. And that pains me.

And giving thanks that the MAGA-midterm-red-tsunami turned into a little piddle-puddle next to some random fire hydrant is also thanks-worthy; but there are still places (like the House) where MAGA, MAGA-Lite, and white, evangelical nationalists will continue to try to upset the democratic process and totally fail at passing meaningful legislation, focusing instead on witch hunts and “getting even” for the Jan. 6 Committee.

The Ukrainians are beating back the Russians, so praise the Lord and pass (more of) the ammunition; but Putin’s left more than 40,000 Ukrainians dead, is destroying their infrastructure ahead of winter, and threatening nukes to avenge his humiliation; and that isn’t anything to be thankful for.

Yet, Hallelujah! My inbox has become magically manageable sans countless pleas for money. But, it did seem like a major ego-boost to know I was such an important part in the battle for democracy that many, many big-name pols personally wrote to me, asking for my help (and money). Aren’t I special?

And we are especially thankful to have dodged covid so far; knock on wood, thank god and science for the vaccines and boosters, and Biden for making them available. I am tearfully thankful we lost only one good friend to the pandemic but fear it ain’t over yet with more than 300 people a day still dying from the disease. So while 79 percent of the country has had one shot and 68 percent are “fully” vaccinated, only 33 percent of the population has had a booster, and that’s not boding well for winter.

I give thanks daily that The Big One is still a “what if” news story and the volcanoes under Mounts Rainier, Baker, Adams, St. Helens and Glacier Peak have stayed under said mountains. But, I’ll confess, when the Waterford in the china closet rattles I do check that it was just a big truck driving by and not another Nisqually or worse.

There’s lots of other stuff I’m thankful for: It’s great to see President Biden and China’s Xi talking; inflation moderating a bit; asteroids getting bumped out of orbit; recent Democratic legislation actually helping people; and great reads, such as Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” next to my comfortable overstuffed chair. (Yes, I’m reading it again, for the 10,000th time.) But it’s balanced by the need for Xi and Biden to talk more (about Taiwan, for instance) and Big Oil’s assault on American consumers as they hike gas prices while reaping record profits.

And I’m also eternally thankful for people such as chef Jose Andres and his World Food Kitchen (like when he showed up in Poland to feed refugees); Sen. and amputee/Army-vet Tammy Duckworth who shows us, daily, real courage; Lin-Manuel Miranda whose “Hamilton” and “In the Heights” brings us so much tuneful pleasure; Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson for demonstrating courage, smarts and poise; Volodymyr Zelensky for facing down (and apparently beating) Putin; retiring Speaker Nancy Pelosi for all she’s accomplished; and, of course, that most unlikely, and under-appreciated, hero, Joe Biden. Who woulda thunk?

Thanksgiving 2022 will be a typical Burke holiday: Fifteen to 30 sitting, standing and floating around our little house; the table laden with everyone’s best holiday recipes; 15 or 20 different conversations, all at once and all at a decibel level somewhere just south of a Led Zeppelin or Who concert; and the unabashed satisfaction of seeing everyone simply enjoying each other’s company.

It’s so easy to get lost in the headlines or entangled in raging debates and forget what makes our short time on this planet important and worthwhile.

But it’s also important to balance such holiday euphoria with the harsh, grim reality of life and celebrating our good fortune; all those pots and pans we used now need scouring; dishes, glasses, and silverware need rinsing and cleaning before we put them all in the dishwasher to get rinsed and cleaned; there’s an acre of table linen bound for the washer/dryer; the living room rug must be vacuumed; the card table and folding chairs have to be stowed away ‘til Christmas; and that really comfortable overstuffed chair calling me, but the trash’s gotta go out first.

Happy Turkey Day to all.

Slava Ukraini.

Tom Burke’s email address is t.burke.column@gmail.com.