I can’t believe we are celebrating another Thanksgiving, but I guess the old saying about how time flies when you’re having fun really is true.
This column I write every year at this time gives me a chance to do some deep reflection on my own life, the lives of those who are near and dear and friends who help me out more than they will ever realize. I know that a lot of years I mention the same things, but those things never get old and insignificant.
So without a bunch more unnecessary words, here is a list – may be a bit lengthy this year – of all that I am thankful. I know this is a public forum where anyone in the world can read. I also know that a lot of stuff I mention is deeply personal, but let me be the first to say thanks for reading it anyway.
I AM THANKFUL for my dear wife Althea. She’s been the woman of my dreams for a long time and we just celebrated 25 years on April 22. She’s also the veteran in my family and for that, I will always be indebted to her for all the sacrifices she’s made on my behalf.
I AM THANKFUL for my two grandsons. Riley just turned four on Nov. 14 while Hudson will be three in mid-April, but what a joy they are. They live in Crossville with my son and daughter-in law Michael and Kelly and are growing up way too fast. I just wish I could spend a bit more time with them.
I AM THANKFUL that my friend Paul Brock has been named as the next volleyball coach at Soddy Daisy High School. This guy has been around the sport a long time and has had more success than most. And now that he’s reached the next step in his coaching career, those Lady Trojans will only benefit from his influence.
I AM THANKFUL for Chattanooga’s National Cemetery and the lump that comes up in my throat when I visit that place on Veteran’s Day when every grave has an American flag on it and the roads are lined with much bigger ones. Both of my parents are buried there and am hoping I will be too one day if it doesn’t fill up too soon.
I AM THANKFUL that for one more day, I woke up without a hangover. December 18 will mark 30 years since my last drink, so if you multiply 365 by 30, subtract 25 days for those yet to pass and add seven for leap years, you come up with a really large number like 10,932. I’m proud of that number, but I need to keep reminding myself that all that matters is what I do about it today.
I AM THANKFUL for my buddy Roy Exum, who gave me my first chance to be a sports writer on Nov. 3, 1979. A lot of water has passed over the dam since that time, but it was a day I’ll never forget, one big reason was the Vols lost to Rutgers in football.
I AM THANKFUL that Roy set the example of writing columns like this. He also did one at Christmas for his wishes and again at Easter for his hopes. In recent months, I really fell in love with his columns at the start of every month mentioning his “Orchids and Onions.” I really miss stuff he used to write and hope he is happy and healthy today.
I AM THANKFUL for my buddy Ward Gossett, who was the first veteran sports writer to take me under his wing. He did his best to steer me in the right direction and he was really patient, telling me that I if don’t do anything else right, make sure to get the final score right and to spell people’s names correctly.
I AM THANKFUL that I’ve developed some wonderful relationships along those lines in the past 44 years. The coaches, athletes, parents and administrators have made this a dream-come-true job and I’ve been blessed every step of the way. I began with the intent of being able to share positive news about young people and I’ve been able to do that thousands of times.
I AM THANKFUL that I get to cover high school sports on a regular basis and that includes state tournaments. Those events can really wear you down mentally and physically, but it’s always an honor to cover local teams when they win state championships. Baylors Kelli Smith has won eight straight state softball titles and they are always fun, but what an honor it was for me to sit in the gymnasium at Siegel High School in October to first cover Sale Creek’s first-ever state title in volleyball before doing the same for Signal Mountain.
I AM THANKFUL that I had two of the most wonderful parents on earth. I didn’t always get what I wanted, but never went without anything I needed, including a number of times when I got my tail busted for being a bad boy.
I AM THANKFUL that my mother and mother-in-law were both outstanding cooks. I’m sorry they are both gone now, but my wife and two sisters are almost as good and can cook delicious meals with the best of them.
I AM THANKFUL that I can sit in the press box at AT&T Field or Finley Stadium and count at least seven American flags flying in the Chattanooga on a clear afternoon.
I AM THANKFUL that I’m the proud owner of a small fishing boat. I do a lot of fishing at Possum Creek in Soddy Daisy where the fishing is simply awesome. And to be able to get there by water instead of trying to negotiate steep trails goes without saying.
I AM THANKFUL that most fish like my offering of crickets or night crawlers.
I AM THANKFUL for electric blankets. I never used one when I was younger, but we have one on our bed year-round and there’s never a time when I crawl under the covers late at night to warmth that I don’t say thank you.
I AM THANKFUL that I was able to attend my 50th high school reunion back in late September. That was the first one I’ve attended and must admit there were a bunch of guys I was genuinely happy to see.
I AM THANKFUL that Baylor and McCallie will meet again next Thursday night for a state football title. Erik Kimrey has done an unbelievable job of bringing the Red Raiders back to the top and he’s done so with outstanding assistant coaches and some incredible athletes. The best part of that is that most are really good people as well. Ralph Potter has done an equally great job at McCallie.
I AM THANKFUL for my wood-burning fireplace. I spend much of the year collecting wood and then rent a hydraulic log splitter for the rest of the work. I have a number of dear friends who help me from year to year including my son Michael, Glenn, Tom and Justin, but I want to give a special shout out to my best friend Ray McIntyre and his sons Wes and Cameron for working by my side for three straight days. There’s no way I could have done it without any of those guys. And there are no words to describe the smell of wood burning outside on a cold winter evening.
I AM THANKFUL for Shawn Poppie, Dan Earl and Rusty Wright for the work they do leading the UTC basketball and football teams. They too do things the right way and it always shows in the finished product.
I AM THANKFUL that my path crossed with the late Jennifer “Curly” Johnson Williams many years ago. So sorry that she passed earlier this fall, but what a delight she was to be around and always had a smile on her face. She may be the greatest female athlete to ever call Chattanooga home, but if she didn’t make you feel better after seeing her, then something was really wrong.
I AM THANKFUL for the success the Atlanta Braves have had in recent years. Too bad they didn’t have better results in the playoffs, but they are definitely a force to be reckoned with in the coming years.
I AM THANKFUL that the Texas Rangers won this year’s World Series. Couldn’t have happened to a better bunch of guys and a manager named Bruce Bochy. I had the opportunity to cover a Braves game with the San Diego Padres back in the 80s and Bochy was a catcher on that team. He was one of the kindest and genuine professional athletes I ever interviewed and I’ll never forget how he made a rookie reporter like me feel so at home.
I AM THANKFUL for my friend Wanda. Have no idea what her last name is, but she’s the face of Chattanooga Lookouts baseball and also works UTC football and basketball games. She always greets me with a huge hug and a smile worth millions of dollars.
I AM THANKFUL that I get really positive emails from time to time. Most are regarding a story I’ve written and they mean more than any paycheck.
I AM THANKFUL I got to interview and do a story on a young lady from Sale Creek named Eisa Eilertson, who is a junior and one of the reasons for their success in volleyball. This young lady is an Eagle scout and has really detailed plans for her life ahead. Want to talk about having your ducks in a row…
I AM THANKFUL for McKee Bakery and that they are a local company that produces a bunch of Little Debbies that I so love. Swiss cake rolls and Oatmeal Cream Pies are just two of my favorites.
I AM THANKFUL for Pumpy Tudors. He was an all-state football player at Marion County back during their heyday and later an All-American at UTC. He’s now a state trooper and it always makes me feel good to see him on the sideline of a UTC football game.
I AM THANKFUL for Nina Lail, who is an eighth grader at Baylor. I covered the Baylor-Lipscomb Academy football game a few weeks back and this young lady sang the national anthem. I’ve probably heard this song sung in public well over a thousand times in my 68 years, but I’ve never heard it done any better than she did it. She’s the oldest daughter of Sarah and Robbie and has a spectacular voice. I got to hear Damian Sparks do the same thing before last week’s win over Knoxville Catholic. He’s a junior on the football team and did an incredible job as well.
I AM THANKFUL for Christmas decorations. There are a couple of houses that really do some creative and beautiful stuff around the holidays, one of which includes a huge tree in their living room that was all lit up before Halloween. And my neighbor Christine, who lives just up the hill, does the same thing. I can enjoy her decorations from my den. She also has the most immaculate yard in the neighborhood that she mows at least twice a week.
I AM THANKFUL for my pets Juliette and Sambo. Juliette is a mixed breed dog we adopted from the Humane Society a few years ago while Sambo is an all-black cat that just showed up one day. Althea has done a great job of spoiling them both rotten, but what joy and happiness they bring to our lives.
I AM THANKFUL for old reruns of the Andy Griffith Show. I’ve always felt like the world would be a better place if they watched a few more of those wonderful episodes.
I AM THANKFUL for the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. It has been a lifesaver for me and given me a life beyond my wildest dream. It wasn’t that I was a bad person during those years, but drugs and alcohol can make a person do some really dumb and insane things at times. I’m really proud of my buddy Stephen, who recently picked up a blue chip signifying six months of continuous sobriety. I’m hopeful that’s he’s finally on the right path.
I AM THANKFUL for the Serenity Prayer. It’s something we say at the beginning of every AA meeting. It’s brief and to the point, but I wish we would say the whole thing. It goes like this: God, Grant me the serenity to accept things I can not change, Courage to change the things I can and Wisdom to know the difference. The rest says: Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that he will make all things right if I just surrender to his will. So that I may be reasonly happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever and ever in the next. Amen!!!
I AM THANKFUL for reasonably good health. I must confess I was much more dedicated to my fitness in years past and had about 35 years of amazing long distance running, including three trips to the prestigious Boston Marathon. Maybe I’ll regain my motivation one of these days. I’m just thankful that I don’t take a single medication on a regular basis.
I AM THANKFUL that today I have feelings. There was a time in my life when my feelings were anesthetized by drugs and alcohol, but that’s not the case today. I’m a very emotional person and can shed a tear at the drop of a hat, but most of the time it’s happy stuff and I don’t apologize for that.
I AM THANKFUL for fall colors and that we get a chance to experience all four seasons for the most part in Chattanooga. Fall weather where it’s warm during the day and cool at night really makes me feel good. And if we’d just get a nice snowfall every year or two.
I AM THANKFUL for sunsets I experience as I pass over Chickamauga Dam late in the afternoon.
I AM THANKFUL for portable heaters. I have one under my desk and I often turn it on while I sit and read late at night. It’s not always cold, but it does a great job of knocking the chill off.
I AM THANKFUL for my Echo backpack blower. We have at least seven huge hardwood trees in our yard that drop millions of leaves every fall. I spend more time blowing leaves in the fall than mowing all summer and to have the best commercial blower on the market makes all the difference in the world.
I AM THANKFUL for clean cars. I must admit that I don’t wash mine nearly as often as they need, but I always feel so good to drive them when they are freshly washed.
I AM THANKFUL for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the impact it has on millions of high school athletes across the nation. Jay Fowler spearheads the local effort and has done a wonderful job in all his years.
I AM THANKFUL that Chattanooga has the benefit of having private schools like Baylor, McCallie and GPS. They provide an educational experience like none other. Boyd Buchanan, Chattanooga Christian, Notre Dame and Silverdale Academy do similar stuff, but those first three have been doing it for more than 100 years.
I AM THANKFUL for the Chattanooga Boys Choir and the job Vic Oakes does with these young men. For many years, going to the Singing Christmas Tree at the Tivoli was among the highlight of my Christmas season. This year I’m looking forward to their concert at my church on December 2.
I AM THANKFUL for lunches we’ve had on a monthly basis this year with guys from the old News-Free Press days. It’s always nice to be able to reconnect with these guys and to be able to share with them just how much they mean to me and all the fun times we had along the way.
I AM THANKFUL for John Wilson and what he’s done with the Chattanoogan.com. I am so blessed to be able to work for him as I cover most sports when I want, where I want and even if I want. To be able to go cover an event, go home and write my story before posting and even editing it without having to interact with anyone else is a dream come true.
I AM THANKFUL that I will sit down at my sister Nancy’s house later today and enjoy an amazing Thanksgiving dinner. I may be un-American, but I won’t eat the first bite of turkey and dressing. However, I’ll more than make up for it with ham, sweet potatoes, corn, rice and gravy and then some homemade Apple pie. If that’s not something to be thankful for, I don’t know what is.
I AM THANKFUL that I have choices today and that I’ve made better choices in the past almost 30 years. My father always told me that if I wanted to be a winner, to surround myself with winners. I continue to do that and my life just keeps getting better.
I AM THANKFUL for my friends, Larry Ward, Jim Reynolds and Jed Mescon, who are three of the best media folks anywhere. Those guys really love the work they do and it shows every time they’re on the air as they are the ultimate professionals.
I AM THANKFUL I have survived another year and that I continue to be a child of God. If I continue to put my faith and trust in him, I have nothing to be afraid of in the future, no matter what.
I AM THANKFUL for folks like you who make my life worth living and who are willing to share the good days – and the bad – along the way.
I know you have your own list of things to be thankful for. As my old buddy Jim Duggar used to say, thanks for reading all the way to the bottom. May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and may the Lord continue to bless us all as we move forward.
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)