JOHN HUNT: Just Another Chance To Be Grateful

It’s hard to believe another year has passed, but as the old saying goes, “Time flies when you’re having fun.

A whole lot has happened in this past year, mostly good and sometimes bad.  But as I continue to get older, my ability to be grateful continues to grow.  I started making a gratitude list several years ago where I list five things every day that I’m grateful for.

It’s always interesting to look back over that list from time to time and to remember the experiences and emotions that led to such listings.

I take several weeks to compile my list and I’ve noticed that several items are on it almost every year.  That just goes to show there are people and things in my life that I’m thankful for and wouldn’t be where I am today otherwise.

Here, in no particular order, is my gratitude list for Thanksgiving 2016.

I AM THANKFUL that I woke up this morning without a hangover.  If my math calculations are correct, it’s been 8,377 days since that last one in December ’93 and it’s one I hope I never forget.

I AM THANKFUL for my dear wife Althea.  She’s the woman of my dreams and does so much more for my benefit than I do for hers.  Today is our 20^th Thanksgiving together.

I AM THANKFUL that we made our final house payment in August.  We are so lucky to be living in a wonderful neighborhood called Murray Hills in a house just down the street from where I grew up.

I AM THANKFUL for my friend and former boss Roy Exum, who is really the one who planted this idea many years ago.  I still have many fond memories of my days at the News-Free Press and the experiences I had back in those days.

I AM THANKFUL that I still remain close friends with my buddy Ward Gossett, who took me under his wing back in 1979 and showed me the do’s and don’ts of being a sports writer.  Ward has threatened to retire in the near future and I’m sure he will, but he too is a sports nut from way back and just hates to give it up.

I AM THANKFUL for the Baylor volleyball team.  They’ve had great teams in the past, but this year’s squad may have been the best ever.  I wish they could have somehow beaten Briarcrest in the state finals, but those Baylor girls remain classy whether they win or lose.

I AM THANKFUL that Signal Mountain’s Taylor Luthringer will be running cross country and track for the Tennessee Lady Vols next fall.  Luthringer is always happy and smiling and a constant positive support to her teammates.  It’s been a real joy to write about her success in recent years.

I AM THANKFUL for Dogwood Lodge and the part of my spiritual journey that it represents.  It’s our church camp and it’s located on lovely Possum Creek.  I’ve spent many summers up there growing up and really count my blessings every time I have a chance to go back.

I AM THANKFUL for the Star Spangled Banner and the feeling I get when I hear it played before an athletic event.  And for those folks who want to sit down while it’s being played, maybe they should be sent to a great place like Afghanistan where they can feel what being free really means.

I AM THANKFUL for young football coaches like Adam Caine, Joey Mathis and Vic Grider.  All of their teams are still in the high school playoffs and are really making a positive difference in so many lives.  I’m hoping they all win Friday night.

I AM THANKFUL for ladies like Carol Martin, Brenda Hooper and Mary LaRoche.  They are all members of my church and I refer to them as my Angels Sent Straight From Heaven.  I can’t imagine a single one of them getting upset or having anything bad to say about anybody.

I AM THANKFUL for my friend Betty Fox.  She too was a member of my church and passed away earlier this year, but what a fun person she was to be around.  There was never a dull moment when Betty was present.

I AM THANKFUL for the Chattanooga Public Library and the services they offer to local residents.  I just wish that parking at the downtown facility wasn’t in such high demand.

I AM THANKFUL for Vic Oakes and the job he does with the Chattanooga Boys Choir.  The annual Singing Christmas Tree is coming up on December 3 and I always look forward to such a festive performance.  If you need an early kick-start to some Christmas spirit, maybe you should plan to attend.

I AM THANKFUL for wood splitters and the fact I don’t have to use a sledge hammer and wedge to split wood like in earlier times.  You have to be careful when operating one because they can cut off a finger in a split second.

I AM THANKFUL for the fireplace at our house and the fact that we have lots of open fires when the weather is cold.  I’m sure our neighbors wonder what we’re doing when we have a fire and it’s somewhat warm outside, but there’s nothing like getting warm sitting on the hearth in front of a blazing fire.

I AM THANKFUL for the late, great Pat Summitt.  So much has been written and said about the former coach of the Lady Vols, but I’m just lucky to have been able to interview her on several occasions when the SEC Tournament was played here in Chattanooga.

I AM THANKFUL that I got to meet and shake hands with UConn coach Geno Auriemma.  I haven’t always liked him, but the job he’s done with the Huskies is remarkable and to be able to meet him last fall at McKenzie Arena was a real honor for me.

I AM THANKFUL that I was present when my son Michael got married in Crossville on October 1.  Kelly is his lovely wife and a real sweetheart.  Their marriage was a true answer to prayer for me.  The icing on the cake that day was being able to watch the final play of the Tennessee-Georgia game that day when the Vols pulled out a last-second win.

I AM THANKFUL that I was at Barnhardt Circle a couple of weeks ago for the finish of the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon and that I got to watch Tripp McCallie break three hours for the first time.  Tripp is a fine fellow and an outstanding runner.  To see the look on his face when he accomplished that goal was simply wonderful.

I AM THANKFUL I didn’t have to run that marathon on Nov. 12.  I think I did Chickamauga 17 times and tried my best to break three hours, but 3:02:39 was as close as I got.

I AM THANKFUL that Michael Phelps had another gold-medal performance at the Summer Olympics.  He’s the epitome of what happens when you keep working hard and don’t give up.

I AM THANKFUL that the Chicago Cubs finally won another World Series.  What a memorable season they had.  I think of all the Cub greats in my lifetime that never even got to play in one, much less win it.

I AM THANKFUL to be the proud owner of a 15-foot, flat-bottomed fishing boat.  The Tennessee River is really pretty, especially from water level, and I’m glad that the fish are often willing to bite.

I AM THANKFUL for my Stihl chainsaw.  It’s a Farm Boss and it’s the baddest machine I’ve ever put my hands on.  You want to talk about turning a big tree into a pile of sawdust…

I AM THANKFUL for Dr. Mark Sumida and the fact that all three of his children are outstanding athletes.  Mark is simply a great guy and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know him in recent years.

I AM THANKFUL for Bud Wisseman and the fact that he’s run the Boston Marathon 26 straight years.  Not only is Bud a dedicated runner, he’s also an incredible grower of beautiful roses.  He has at least 100 varieties in his yard and shares them generously with friends.  What a great outreach tool.

I AM THANKFUL for the beauty of the National Cemetary and the lump that forms in my throat when I drive through those hallowed grounds.  And to do so on Memorial Day when there’s an American flag on EVERY grave is almost too much to handle if you know what I mean.

I AM THANKFUL for coach Ben Smith and the fact that his Bradley Bears won two state titles in wrestling last season.  Nobody works harder than Ben and nobody takes a loss quite like him either, but he’s dedicated to Bradley wrestling and to see the hard work pay off in Franklin was really special.

I AM THANKFUL that my hair always grows out after I cut it all off in the summer.  It may be all white, but at least it’s still growing.

I AM THANKFUL that I don’t have any plans for travel or shopping this weekend, especially in places where traffic is bumper-to-bumper and snow is falling.

I AM THANKFUL that at some point, it will rain again in Chattanooga.

I AM THANKFUL for Fred Fletcher, who is the Chief of Police here in Chattanooga.  I got to interview him last year as part of my running feature series and he’s a great guy.  And to see how he operates in tough situations like the bus crash earlier this week just proves he’s the ultimate professional.

I AM THANKFUL for all the folks who battled the local forest fires in recent weeks.  You always see stuff like that in places like California, but for it to be right here in our own back yard was quite scary.

I AM THANKFUL for my right to vote.  Perhaps one of our greatest freedoms, I’m glad I get the chance even when I don’t care two hoots about politics.

I AM THANKFUL for my pets C.J. and Sweetheart.  C.J. is a cat we’ve had for 19 years and Sweetheart is a cute little beagle mix we got six years ago, but they love us and always want to curl up next to us when we’re sleeping.

I AM THANKFUL that Smokey is the mascot for the Tennessee Vols and that he appears to be so photogenic.  He really stepped onto another level last week when he was decked out in an orange hoodie during the Missouri game.

I AM THANKFUL that Bruce Hunt was my father.  He’s been gone for more than 24 years and there’s not a day I don’t think about him, but I’ll always be grateful to him for the example he set and the work ethic he possessed.

I AM THANKFUL for my buddy Jed Mescon, who is now happily employed at Erlanger.  I’m not sure Jed has ever had a bad day (at least he never shows it), but he’s such a positive in Chattanooga and always has something good to say.

I AM THANKFUL for home-cooked meals.  My mother Frances is now 93 and unable to cook any longer, but she was a great teacher for my sisters Emily and Nancy.  No doubt my belly will be stuffed before the sun sets today because of them.

I AM THANKFUL for the Salvation Army and the job they do in helping those less fortunate.  I’ve been “Ringing the Bell” in recent years and plan to do so again this year at Sam’s on Lee Highway the week before Christmas.  So make your plans to stop by and say “hello” and make sure to bring a few bucks for the kettle.

I AM THANKFUL for Dreama Vinyard, who has made a remarkable recovery from serious health issues in recent months.  It always makes me feel good when I see her and Wayne at church on Sunday mornings.

I AM THANKFUL that Josh Dobbs is the quarterback for the Tennessee Vols.  I don’t always like some of his passing attempts, but this young man is a winner from top to bottom and he makes some incredible plays most of the time.

I AM THANKFUL for the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous and the positive impact it’s had on my life.  As my friend J.D. always says, I’ve been given a life beyond my wildest dreams.

I AM THANKFUL for positive influences in my life.  I have the ability to make better choices these days and that always makes a difference, but as the old saying goes, “If you want to be a winner, surround yourself with winners.”

I AM THANKFUL for Elm Croft, an assisted living facility in East Brainerd where my 93-year-old mother now resides.  They are so kind to her and acutely aware of her needs.  And the fact they provide three delicious hot meals daily is a real blessing as well.

I AM THANKFUL for Savannah Nelson and the job she did in her first season as the Red Bank volleyball coach.  Like several other coaches already mentioned, she’s experienced her own athletic success and wants more than anyone for her team to experience it too.

I AM THANKFUL that the Tennessee Vols have been and continue to be my football team.  They may have come up a little short against South Carolina, but they beat Florida and Georgia and that counts for a lot in my book.

I AM THANKFUL for John Wilson and the job he’s done as the publisher/owner of the Chattanoogan.com.  It’s a real blessing working for John as we pretty much pick and choose what we cover, when we cover and how we cover.  To have that kind of journalistic freedom is unheard of and to know there are no space limitations makes it even better.

I AM THANKFUL for the Cardiac Care Unit at Erlanger.  Reid Ross is my father-in-law who had a risky procedure done on Monday, but the good news is that he’s recovering and he has the best care this side of heaven.

I AM THANKFUL for Dianna, Robin and Trish and the job they do with back treatments at Dr. Bill Moore Smith’s office at Erlanger North. 

I AM THANKFUL for a loving God who has been taking care of me for a long, long time and has never turned his back a single time when I can’t say the same.

I AM THANKFUL for all of my readers.  I get feedback from friends all over the country over this column and I just thrive on those comments.  Thanks for taking the time to read my stuff and take a minute to send me a reply.  I’d be forever grateful.

I AM THANKFUL that it’s Thanksgiving again.  As I’ve always said, every day is Thanksgiving for me, so as you take a quiet moment today whenever that is, think about all you have to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

(email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)