Randy Smith
I have been writing for Chattanoogan.com for 10 years now and every Thanksgiving I have written lists of things I am thankful for. As I have reached my 70th Thanksgiving holiday, there are quite a few things I am especially thankful for.
First of all I am thankful for my wonderful family. My wife Shelia, children Christi and Davey and their spouses Chris and Alison, and my precious grandchildren, Coleman, Boone, DellaMae, CoraLee and Mattingly. You are my biggest incentive to get up and go each and every day, though I don't get up and go nearly as fast as I used to.
I'm thankful for my extended family as well, aunts, uncles cousins and others whom I love so much.
I'm thankful for my many friends who always seem to appear when I need them most.
I'm thankful for our dog Skeeter.
Her love and loyalty continues to amaze me each and every day.
I'm thankful that I was able to reach my 70th birthday and I'm looking forward to many more.
I'm also thankful for the wonderful career I had not only as a sportscaster and journalist but also as a teacher, as well as the fabulous people I met and worked with for so many years.
I'm thankful for peaches, my favorite fruit. I love peaches many different ways, especially Shelia's homemade peach ice cream.
I'm thankful for the vaccines that have been furnished to the public to fight COVID-19.
I'm also thankful for the medical folks and first responders who have been so fabulous since the pandemic started.
I'm thankful for my television set and the opportunity to watch college football all day on Saturdays.
I'm thankful for Coach Josh Heupel and the ray of hope he has given to Tennessee fans in 2021.
I'm thankful for the youth baseball and softball coaches who give their time to our kids and grandkids each spring and summer.
I'm thankful for the umpires who continue to work high school games as well as youth contests. The low numbers are getting critical and we need more men and women in blue.
I'm thankful for the chance to still listen to Merle Haggard, my favorite artist ever.
I'm thankful for Alexa and her quick response to all my requests, though I make it very difficult when I have a hard time remembering her name.
I'm thankful for Microwave ovens which allow me to heat up things to eat so quickly when I'm hungry.
I'm thankful for the compassion and love shown to my family in Waverly back in August during those devastating flash floods.
I'm thankful for my doctors who take very good care of me, especially my primary care physician Dr. Mark Heinsohn who has literally saved my life not once but twice.
I'm thankful for the Boyd Buchanan school as Shelia and I make our second trip through. First with our son Davey 24 years ago and now three of our grands who started there in August. It is still a rare and special place.
I'm thankful for the roof over our head and plenty to eat, which is something that not everyone has.
I'm thankful for Facebook and the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and classmates. However, the political bull that I see daily......I'm not so thankful for that.
I'm thankful for WFLI. Those folks have given me a chance to continue doing one of the things I truly love and that's broadcasting high school games.
I'm thankful for the Atlanta Braves and their 2021 World Series Championship. There may be more talented teams in baseball but none with as much heart or determination.
I'm thankful for the holiday season which we are all about to embark upon. Here's wishing all my readers a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving!
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Randy Smith can be reached at rsmithsports@epbfi.com