Thankfulness

It’s sometimes difficult to believe that we continue to celebrate an essentially agrarian holiday in 21st century America.  The current celebration date was established by President Lincoln in 1863.  However, as early as 1777 the Continental Congress created Thursday December 18th as a day set aside for national Thanksgiving.

Now the holiday is associated with commercialism with “brown” Thursday and “black” Friday.  This evolution is unfortunate and blurs the original intent of the holiday.  In our family we do not shop on either Thursday or Friday, partly for self-protection from crazed mobs, but primarily because we just don’t accept the commercialization of giving thanks.

This year I am thankful that MURPHY’S TROUBLES is published.  More than this accomplishment is how it came about.  As my wife reminds me, this year I learned how much my friends believe and support me.  Without friends MURPHY’S TROUBLES wouldn’t have been published in November or even in 2013.

The lesson I learned is that I am part of a creative, arts community; a community that nurtures an artist way of life.  I am fortunate.  I want to thank each person that has walked this journey with me and will continue to be members of my community.