Barbara France

Managing Editor

bfrance@lassennews.com

I’m pessimistic by nature. The saying about seeing the glass half empty definitely pertains to me. Try as I might, I can’t seem to sustain unspeakable joy and a thankful heart for long without giving into worry and gloom.

“Gloom, despair, and agony on me
Deep, dark depression, excessive misery
If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all
Gloom, despair, and agony on me.”

I hope someone reading those words can remember where the lyrics came from. If not, shall I remind you? They are from a weekly skit on the popular 1960s and 1970s syndicated TV hit “Hee Haw.” My parents watched the show religiously and I never forgot the words to that song. It’s not my theme song, but at times I could seriously relate, which is a sad state of affairs for anyone.

However, the truth of the matter is that most Americans, and let me emphasize, most, including pessimistic me can find something to be thankful for. Sure, I think we can all think of someone who has it rough or downright bad. Some of the readers of this paper probably have it bad right now and I am not discounting that. But, even on my worst day, I can still find something to be thankful for. I am just too stubborn at times to want to admit it.

I am thankful I live in Lassen County where the crime rate is negligible when compared to metropolitan areas, and open spaces are still surrounding me.

I am thankful for family and friends who live here, there and everywhere, and the advent of social networking, mail service and phones so I can stay in touch more readily.

I am thankful for my job working at the newspaper and the awesome staff. We all strive so hard to bring you the latest county news. It is a second family.

I am thankful for my government. Though it seems flawed, it works. We are starting our 112th Congress elected by the people. Wow!
I am thankful for the U.S. military and my son-in-law who serves in Afghanistan. He will be home soon, very soon. I am as proud of him as can be. God speed!

I am thankful for two sisters and a dad who love me unconditionally, and for my brothers-in-law, nieces, nephew and step mom who take me at face value. I am thankful I had my wonderful mom for 36 years before her being called home to Glory.

I am thankful for a husband who sticks by me when I am at my worst, my sickest, my weakest and my most pessimistic. They say opposites attract. Guess who is the optimistic one?

I am thankful for three beautiful, outspoken, intelligent, ambitious, delightful daughters. Who chose husbands suited to them and I am waiting for grandchildren, patiently.

I am thankful for all the children I could “adopt” into my life and their parents who let me.

I am thankful for the color red. It brings me so much joy when I see it.

I am thankful for the ability to read, write, knit and crochet, and those who taught me. They are four things that bring pleasure to my life.

I am thankful for my legacy of faith in God passed down from generation to generation, and the prayers said and trust that I would believe. Because prayer was taught to me I can get out of the gloom, despair, agony, deep, dark depression and excessive misery that I like to wallow in.

I hope each of you this coming Thanksgiving Day can take a moment to reflect on what you can be thankful for and remember a very loose paraphrase of Job 11:16, This too shall pass, which by the way is not in the Bible.