I think my next project should be giant and inflatable.

After spending 12 years in the States (and having an embarassingly lazy day today of watching some Thanksgiving related programming on TV) the American November Thanksgiving still holds a little sway over the October version north of the border.  It's considerably less insane up this way and you don't hear nearly as many sirens due to family related brawling or exploding turkeys.  But I do have some fond memories of how Thanksgiving was pretty universally celebrated by all and how it typically was a good opportunity to be with family before the immediate and steady decline into, and exorbitant expense of, Christmas madness.  Unfortunately Black Friday behavior has been creeping it's way up here, though, and that was one aspect of batshit stupidity that maybe should have/could have been contained in the lower 48. 

Anyways...

A little over a week ago, my brother hit a moose with his car on the highway.  The paramedics and police couldn't believe he survived - let alone was relatively uninjured (considering.)  He fractured three vertebrae in his neck, cut up and bruised his face, arm and hand; mostly from the impact sending him forward into the steering wheel.  That is probably what saved his life as the moose all but removed the top of his vehicle (pictured below: it was only being held on with the rear struts and flipped back on top of the vehicle for towing.)  All in all, it's a pretty miraculous story considering he is has already been released from hospital with only a neck brace, some meds and instructions to it easy for the next few months. 

So with all the people talking about how thankful they are today/this Thanksgiving - that is one thing I am thankful for.

I also watched a show about 'Poor Kids' on PBS a few days ago...  Through no fault of their own the children featured were lucky to be eating one meal a day - and that meal was rarely a nutritious one.  It touched on how eating fast or processed food was significantly cheaper than a balanced diet.  So just today, I paid closer attention and noticed how we could have eaten McDonalds or Subway twice for the amount of money I spent on fruit and vegetables at the grocery store.  I don't know of a solution but do see this as a problem. 

So with close to 1 in four kids living below the poverty line, I suppose I'm pretty thankful that our kids eat pretty well, don't go to bed hungry and don't have to worry about where their next meal is coming from.
 
I'm pretty damn thankful for the support of my wife.  I complain a lot, I know, but at the end of the day and due in no small part to the stability she provides - I get to paint all day.  In fact, she even encourages me to take bigger risks and work on bolder projects.  Any of the problems I ever claim to be facing are all either of my own construction or within my ability to do something about.  Not everybody can say that and I'm pretty Thankful for that too.

And I'm pretty damn thankful for the friends I have made on this journey.  As my time spent with Dan and Curtis a few weeks ago pointed out yet again - I have been incredibly fortunate to meet and make strong connections and forge lasting friendships with incredible (and incredibly talented) people all over the world.  So...  chances are, if you are reading this, I'm pretty damn Thankful to know you too.

Happy Thanksgiving - wherever you are.  Sincerely,

Rod