I am Really Thankful for...

Almost everyone you ask will tell you that Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday, and you can count me among that group. And, it is definitely a time to sit back and think about everything you have in your life – from family to friends – and be thankful. However, we often forget about the “important” things for which we all should really be thankful.

Velcro – where in the world would we be without Velcro? I mean, because of Velcro, we don’t have to teach children to tie their shoes anymore, they can just buy sneakers with the Velcro straps, and voila, they know how to “tie” their shoes. But seriously, today, Velcro holds everything together (including my life) and I for one am extremely thankful for it.

Satellite Radio – Honestly, how did we survive without it? I can listen to my favorite music or talk stations regardless of where I am in my car. The variety of entertainment is incredible, and the most important thing about satellite radio for which I am thankful – the old time radio classics station. My son and I have been introduced to some of the greatest radio drama and comedy series of all time. How can I not be thankful for satellite radio?

Keurig Coffeemaker -- This probably should be at the top of my list. Pop in a K-cup, flip the switch, and a cup of coffee is yours in less than a minute. And now that both and Starbucks offer K-cups, you might never have to leave the house again, especially on a cold winter morning, for that first cup of coffee. I am forever thankful to Keurig and its coffeemaker.  

EZPass/FastPass, etc. – Is this not one of the greatest inventions ever? Is this not something for which to be thankful? We no longer have to battle those long lines at the tolls, and the system works in about a dozen states if not more. And, if you are heading to New Hampshire on Route 95, they have those super fast lanes that you can drive through at 65 miles per hour or more. I am sooooooo thankful for EZPass.

Eggnog -- There is NOTHING that says Thanksgiving or Christmas like eggnog, and there is nothing that tastes better and adds calories more quickly than this wonderful dairy delight. And of course, there is only one kind of eggnog to drink – Hood. Everything else is inferior and a poor impostor. I am thankful that there are cows able to produce vast quantities of eggnog during the holiday season.

Black Friday – What would we do the day after Thanksgiving without Black Friday? Come to think of it, what would we do at 12:01 a.m. on the Friday after Thanksgiving without Black Friday? Who doesn’t want to go out into the cold night and wait in a long line for a chance to get 40% off on a 42-inch flat screen television or fight with other crazy parents to buy whatever version of Elmo is popular this year? And even better, in some states, Black Friday is becoming Black Thanksgiving Day night, with some popular toy stores opening at 9 p.m. on Thursday. I am thankful that Black Friday is still Black Friday in Massachusetts.

Artificial Turf – Neither snow nor rain nor sleet nor hail will keep the North Reading high school athlete from playing scheduled games on the . Artificial turf should be considered one of the wonders of the world. It looks like grass and feels like grass, but unlike grass it doesn’t die or wear down into bare sports by the end of each season. I and all North Reading’s kids are most definitely thankful for artificial turf.

The Internet – This is the granddaddy of all things when it comes to being thankful. The internet has made everyone a writer, movie maker, musician, expert on everything, and on and on and on. It delivers information in an instant and everything one finds on the internet is the absolute, 100 percent truth. And, the thing about the internet for which I am most thankful – I don’t have to go out of my house anymore for anything. I can shop, read, learn, listen to music, watch television shows and movies, etc. with all of my internet “friends,” all without ever having to leave my home.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. Enjoy your day with family and friends. If you have other “important” things for which we should be thankful, please add them to the comments below.