I have plenty to be thankful for; you probably do, too

Out & About, by Howard Delo

Thanksgiving is this coming Thursday. You will probably have the opportunity this week to read several different accounts in this and other publications about all the things for which we, as both Alaskans and Americans, should be thankful.

Things like living in the freest country in the world, having good health and a loving family, living in a clean environment and all the other topics people like me are listing for you.

These are all good things, and I am thankful for them. But many of these good things also come with a price tag.

My youngest sister's husband, Dan, is a police lieutenant in Georgia. He is also a weapons specialist in the Army Reserves. His unit was called to active duty this past summer, and he has been in Afghanistan since the end of August. My sister tells me he won't be home until next July, or later, depending on world events between now and then.

She mentioned in our last phone call that Dan is leaving on a "mission" and will contact her when he can. She has settled into the role of a working, temporarily single-parent mom to their teenage son and continues to assist our 80+ year-old mother with her daily routines.

I enjoy my freedoms as an American because my brother-in-law is willing to serve our society both in law enforcement and the military ,and my sister is willing to support his efforts. I am not only thankful but also humbled that they are willing to make that level of sacrifice for me.

I am thankful that my health is good, considering my "geezer" status. As I sit at my desk writing this, I see my free weights, bench press and stationary bicycle sitting under a layer of dust. My recent sheep hunt graphically brought the point home that I should be doing much more to retain and improve the health that I currently enjoy. Like everything worth having, good health involves working to keep what you have and working harder to improve it.

I am blessed with a loving wife. She never says a word when I show up with a new gun or fishing rod. She's understanding when I tell her I have to go hunting, fishing, snowmachining, boating, or four-wheeling and that it really is work, since I write this outdoor column. Oh, she gets a little annoyed with me when I don't vacuum every week or take the garbage out on time, but I have gained a whole new appreciation for how much work housework can be. And I am thankful she is still willing to pitch in and help after getting home from her job. She truly is a jewel.

I am thankful to live in Alaska. I grew up in the Midwest and have lived in Maine and Georgia also. While these areas all have their own unique character and charm, nothing compares to Alaska.

The air here is usually so clean that, on a clear day from Big Lake, Mount McKinley, over a hundred miles away, is visible in detail. By comparison, when I flew Outside for a family reunion in Georgia two years ago, I noticed brown "smog" from the plains states to the Atlantic Ocean. After landing, I could smell it, too.

I am thankful for Alaskans' independent, self-sufficient nature and freethinking attitudes about life. I am thankful for having had the opportunity of a career with Fish and Game, and that I survived the politics of state employment to retirement. I am thankful that the folks at The Frontiersman, especially Eowyn and Frank, were willing to let me try my hand at outdoor writing, something I've wanted to do for years.

Take a few minutes sometime this week and think about your own situation. I think you'll realize that God has blessed you, too. Be thankful and enjoy.

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist living in Big Lake. Send your comments and ideas to editor@frontiersman.com, or call (907) 352-2268 and leave a message for Howard.