Turkey day meme

You scored as D'Artagnan. You are D'Artagnan, the brash Gascon who embodies the high ideals of the Musketeer. You are sometime your own worst enemy, but your motives are pure and your character is unimpeachable. You are destined for great things and passionate (though often ill-fated) love. </td> D'Artagnan 65% Aramis 60% Porthos 45% Athos 45% Rochefort 40% Mercedes 40% Edmund Dantes 40% Richelieu 35% Which Dumas character are you? (pics) created with QuizFarm.com

Thankful

I'm thankful for the basics this year: a roof over my head, sufficient to eat, clothes, a job, a way of getting around town, a space in which to do my creative stuff. Because I've been reminded throughout the year in big ways and small that these things are hard to come by for a lot of folks in this world, and easy to lose through bad luck, bad timing, Nature (human and otherwise). I am oh-so-far away from rich by American standards, but compared with three-quarters of the world's population, I live like a princess.

And I've been thinking a lot about that other part of the world—some of it right here in this country, which is pretty much the gold standard for high living. There's enough wealth to go around. We should all share more, according to our means. I hope to share more in the coming year, as much as I can.

I think about Frank Garcia, a local restaurateur (Casa Escobar) who out of his own pocket every Thanksgiving feeds a traditional dinner to anyone who wants to show up at his restaurant. Last year, his parking lot wasn't big enough to hold all the people who came to his dinner so this year he's rented a local concert venue to get them all in—an estimated 15,000 people. He says he does it because he grew up poor and knew what it was like to go without on Thanksgiving, and because life has been good to him (he worked hard for it, too) and he wants to say thank you.

"I see a lot of people," he said, "who are so poor all they've got is money."

I am thankful for people like Frank Garcia.

I am thankful for people who don't believe it's hip to be cynical and cool; who think it's okay to let your feelings show sometimes. I am thankful to care, and thankful for everyone who cares.

I am thankful for my friends, in town and out, online and off, and the friendship they have given me this year. I hope I have returned it in full measure. I hope to keep on swapping it in the coming year.

Thank you. Life has been good to me. Has it been good to you? Then, please, pass it on...and be thankful.