What Thanksgiving Means To Me

[bestgear]

Each year, the month of November is often overlooked due to the earlier encroachment of the holiday season. Stores have both Halloween and Christmas merchandise up at the same time, pushing Thanksgiving out of the way. Out of all the holidays in the year, Thanksgiving is one of my favorites. For starters, its one of four guaranteed days out of the year I can spend with my family because the Government is closed and I don't have to work but now that I'm retired that doesn't matter. When you're little, Thanksgiving seems like kind of a boring holiday, but as I've grown up it's become more of my favorite because it's a national day of thanks. While I'm thankful for everything I have every day of the year, Thanksgiving gives the opportunity to fully share with others why you are thankful. So for the month of November, I'm focusing on what I'm most thankful for. This week I am thankful for my AAPK friends who are like family to me.

I met some of the greatest friends on this planet through AAPK. Though we may not all see each other as much as we like to (or ever) or get to talk everyday, when we do it's like no time has passed. I know that you will be there for me whenever I need it, and I will do the same for you.

Through the good times and the bad, there are so many memories and inside jokes we share that makes it all worth it. I'm thankful for you all because I don't know where I would be in my life without you guys. I hope you know just how much you mean to me, and that I am incredibly blessed to have you in my life.

Though my family is fairly small, the close friends that I have on AAPK make me feel so much like family and that's what they have become. There's a quote that says, "Friends are the family we choose for ourselves," I couldn't agree more.

Thank you AAPK!

[orvet]

Well said Tom, I concur completely!
Have a Blessed Thanksgiving AAPK!

[djknife13]

I too agree wholeheartedly. As I've gotten older I realize each day is a gift and the energy I need to keep going isn't promised but is also a gift that not all people my age get. As for AAPK, as I've seen my local knife club slowly die from our members aging and no young to take their places, AAPK has became a replacement for the fellowship I've lost from the club and I'm thankful for that. God has truly blessed me and I'm grateful. ___Dave

[gsmith7158]

Tom those are sentiments that I think most of us here at AAPK can relate to. This has certainly become my second home over the short period that I have been here. With that said ,I want to wish everyone here a safe and Happy Thanksgiving holiday and I hope everyone gets the chance to reflect on what this day really means. It is one of the more special holidays of the year

[bighomer]

I too am thankful for AAPK and all the fine fellers and gals that make it so much fun. I sure have been blessed this year and I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving day.

[Dinadan]

Thanks for posting this, Tom. I agree with pretty much everything everyone has said here. I certainly have plenty to be thankful for!

[woodwalker]

Happy Thanksgiving to all the members of AAPK!

[philco]

I too am thankful for all the fine folks I've had the opportunity to get to know and become friends with through this forum. I've made a lot of very good friends here. AAPK was the first online forum I ever joined. What a fortunate thing that has proven to be. I'm thankful to now be retired and to have more time to spend doing the things I enjoy and being able to be with my family more, especially my wife. My health isn't the greatest, but I'm still able to get around and do a lot of things, even though there have been adjustments to be made. I feel very blessed and grateful for all that makes up my life. Most of all, I'm thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I hope each one who reads this has a great Thanksgiving Day and I hope you'll pause and reflect and give thanks for all your blessings.

[rea1eye]

Great original post Tom. I think you hit all the nails on the head with that post. As we grow older,
we realize how fragile our lives are and how it does not take much sometimes to untangle everything
in our life.

You are correct about Christmas. This consumerism has really gotten out of hand. Few people talk about
their reflecting time on life and celebration of the birth. I just attended Grandparent's Day at my
grandsons school and it is so sad. The school( public county) basically does not celebrate any Holidays.
The only thing that was at the school were a few paper pumpkins.

Anyway, my life is not exactly as I had planned it but I am thankful for everything I have in my life.
Now that I am partially retired, I am very thankful for all the discussions and members here at AAPK.


HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE Don't forget to clean you knife before you start using it at the table.

Bob

[FRJ]

I'm thankful to be living in the "Good Old Days".

[doglegg]

Tom you and Phil said every thing I would say and said it better. Thankful to the Lord for his grace and bounty.

[steve99f]

You all have wonderful Thanksgiving day!

[jmh58]

Well this will be our first Thanksgiving with our new grandson Tucker.. 5 months old on the 11th of Nov... John