Thankful

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. My wife Amy. We’ve test “For Better and Worse” daily and are still clicking.
2. My three boys. Never knew how empty life was until they were born.
3. My parents Dave and Virginia Ramsey.  They gave me a good mix of nature and nurture.
4. My sisters Jennifer and Stephanie. I’m proud to have strong, brilliant siblings.
5. That I got to know Adam Stine. RIP to the finest brother-in-law I could ask for.
6. For the guidance my cousin Dave has given me over the past couple of years.
7. Come to think of it, I’m thankful for all my relatives. You can pick your friends but not your relatives. But if I could, I’d pick nearly every single family member I have.
8. For my in-laws. Of course they are good people. They had a great daughter.
9. My job(s).
10. Mike Frascogna III and Tim Little.
11. All the successes I’ve had in the past year.
12. And all the failures. (how else will I learn and make it to my next success?)
13. That I have three meals a day and a roof over my head.
14. Banjo. And Pip.  A dog adds so much to your life. You don’t realize it until you lose one.
15. My talent.  I pray I’m using it to the best of my ability.
16. That my book Fried Chicken & Wine is doing really well.
17. That I went through Paul Lacoste’s bootcamp. I lost 50 lbs. and gained even more friends.
18. For Patrick House for challenging me to lose my weight.
19. My friend Randy
20. That I am cancer free.
21. For all the doctors, researchers and volunteers who are fighting hard to put an end to cancer.
22. Charlie and Patsy Daniel.
23. That I worked as a janitor at Pope High school and  the quality folks I met  like Luke Prescott.
24. For people who don’t believe in me.
25. That I can run long distances.
26. That I live in Mississippi.
27. That my sons go to amazing schools.
28. That I get to work with interesting and talented people.
29. For having professional success.
30. That I live in the United States of America.
31. That I’ve had the opportunity to illustrate two excellent children’s books this year.
32. For Brian Tolley. As an editor, I appreciate that he has been decent to me.
33. That people believe in my talent.
34. For those who sacrifice so I can have the rights I have.
35. For my kids’ smiles.
36. Home cooking.
37. The Great Smoky Mountains.
38. Dr. Kenny Barraza.
39. Con Maloney and Doug Wilson. Both businessmen have been kind to my family over the past couple of years.
40. My SuperTalk family.
41. That I got to work with talented coworkers like David Hampton, Sid Salter, Jim Ewing, Joe White, Rick Cleveland, Gary Pettus and so many others who are no longer in the newspaper business.
42. My syndicate family at Creators.com
43. For the fact that I’m still part-time job at The Clarion-Ledger.
44. For politicians who do dumb stuff.
45. That I have a reliable car.
46. That I live in a nice home.
47. Good health.
48. Every sunrise I see.
49. For those who see a need and act on it.
50. Getting to meet and interview talented Mississippians.
51. That I can paint, draw, write, talk and host a radio show. Nearly daily.
52. That I make enough money to pay my bills.
53. For friends from my past like Bob Witty, Pat Gonzales and Glenda Winders.  I was lucky to work with such bright and caring people.
54. That I’m above ground and still fighting.
55. You reading this.