Thankful for plenty

First of all, I wish to express my condolences to Halina Slobodow at the loss of her husband and life partner (“Be truly thankful,” Nov. 12). I also wish to express my admiration at her ability to take up a pen and tell people to be thankful in this time of her grief.

We Americans tend to be an unthankful nation. As a child, l remember sitting around the Thanksgiving dinner table, taking turns saying for what we were thankful. Nowadays, people can’t pry themselves from their smartphones long enough to say thanks.

In conclusion, I will include a short list of things for which we Spokanites should be grateful: 1) abundant water, 2) freedom to vote and protest, 3) freedom of worship, 4) no troops sequestered in our houses, 5) police and fire departments and 6) Lilac Parade, Spokane Symphony and Pig out in the Park.

The King James Bible says, “In everything give thanks …” This includes the bad things. Thankfulness imbues each day with a special glow. As for Halina, I hope she keeps writing for years to come.

Douglas R. Benn

Spokane