There is no question these past two years have been very trying, upsetting, emotional, filled with fear, division, the pandemic creating one problem after another. Still there are reasons for us all to be thankful and I am truly thankful for many things in my eighth plus decade on this planet.

First and foremost, I am thankful for my good health, especially with the pandemic, after receiving a huge scare in December 2014 with a “widow maker” heart attack…….I am thankful to have a fantastic angel in my life, Carole, who was sent my way by another angel, my late wife of 48 years, Flo. Trust me, in you don’t believe in angels, please do because they really do exist. I am thankful to have a fantastic son, Warren, who has fought his own health battles and continues to beat them……I am thankful to have a second family with the Cianci’s who I have known for almost forty years. I am thankful to have my brother from another mother, Vern and his bride Suzanne as a big part of my life. I am also thankful for other family members and good friends I have to share my life with in good times and bad.

I am extremely thankful that even though I am at an age when most people have been retired for years, that I can still function at my profession and put in many hours a day writing, editing, creating and critiquing bringing, hopefully, pleasure and enjoyment to others. I have been blessed to have had careers that brought joy, entertainment and good times to people and I will be forever thankful for that. As for retirement, as some have asked me about, the only way retirement will come is when I take a “dirt nap”. I am thankful that through social channels like Facebook that I can connect with so many people around the world and able to keep a number of long term friendships going.

It may be a struggle at times, especially in times like these now, but I am very thankful to have a roof over my head, food on the table and a mode of transportation to get me here and there, something way too many people in this country do not have. I am thankful that I have been spared the horrors of losing everything including loved ones, because of floods, fires, hurricanes or other disasters as many have been during this past couple of years.

Today this country is in deep trouble in so many ways being fed fear, creating division, a cancel culture, a politically correct mandate that has run amok, and an administration that is totally out of touch with reality and the needs of the American people with no real signs of change for the better. Still, with all that, I am thankful to be an American, to live in this country that I served and love. So in spite of our problems, let us all be thankful for all we do have because it is a lot more than millions around the country and world have.

A very Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN