Thanksgiving was indeed celebrated in Baghdad, as many of you have no doubt heard.
Interesting concept, that. I have, over the years, become rather enamoured with the idea of a day set aside for the purposes of gratitude. It is true that the day was once a uniquely American celebration. It was a rememberance of the fact that the first European settlers in that wild land did not die out, as they should have, but were instead aided by sympathetic aboriginals.
The celebration seems to have evolved over time, as many do, into a more generic celebration of gratitude as a concept. It retains the religious overtones, to a certain extent, but I have never known anyone to reject the observance of it for that reason.
And so, now that things have settled back into a rhythm here, I have a moment to write, and gratitude is what comes to mind. I have much for which I am grateful. Primarily, I continue to sruvive my most recent business trip. No small feat, that, and I owe a great deal to those I came here to assist. In that way, we take care of each other.
Additionally, I have not failed in my mission. I am grateful to numerous people, on a few different continents, for that. My work requires a great deal of coordinated effort, and I have had to call in the middle of someone's night or weekend on more than one occasion to have one issue or another "handled". I am fairly certain none of those people will be reading this, but I am grateful to them all the same.
My family is a constant source of strength and inspiration. My Faith is, as well. The various mentors I have had helped me to be able to do the work I now pursue. My close friends, though not numerous, have been loyal and comforting. For all of these, I am thankful.
I would be remiss, and a poor host indeed, if I did not mention you, the readers that have encouraged me to write. If not for some of you, the entries here would be even less frequent than they are now. And so I thank you, all half-dozen of you, for the motivation you have given me. As you have shown an interest in what I have to say, for whatever reason, I will do my best not to let you down.
Thank you.