Gratefulness

In this country, we have a big annual festival, originally a religious observance, dedicated to giving Thanks. The occasion is mostly to do with thanking whatever gods may be – for our lives, and for all the good things they may contain. 

But why? Wouldn’t we be equally justified in cursing, or at least objecting to, all the things that give us trouble, pain, worry, and misery? What god do we thank for those?

Not long ago, something motivated me to make a list, under various categories, of the best things there are – or for the most part have been – in my own life. For some reason, it started with “Best Teacher.” I had two, and they were both at Hendon County School in London. One was Mr. Betts, who made me really interested in recent History and Current Events. This was at the time of the Korean War, in which General MacArthur wanted to pursue then-retreating Chinese troops across the border into China. I remember Mr. Betts saying he wouldn’t be surprised if President Truman fired the General over that. And he was right! Sure enough, just a day or two later, MacArthur was dismissed from his post and recalled to Washington – where he made a dramatic speech to Congress, in which he quoted the barracks song which says, “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.” The other teacher was Mr. Morris, who taught Math, a subject I really disliked – but I still did so well at it that I was transferred to another, more advanced class.

But there, the teacher’s methods were so different that I could hardly understand him, and, at my request, I went back to Mr. Morris. What made the difference? Morris knew how to explain things.

Next on my list was “Best Friend.” This was Brian Richmond. We were in the same class at school and got along so well together that we were permitted to take two months off from school, fly to America, and hitchhike both ways across this whole country.

My “Best Pet” was a dog I named Happy because that was how we felt about each other.

My “Best Girlfriend” was Barbara Jean Smith, who was also the only one I was ever really in love with. We were together for four years, including an extended trip to the USSR. We finally parted because I didn’t want to get married and she’d found someone who did.

What I consider my “Best Journey” was with Dorothy from San Francisco, overland across South America, then across the South Atlantic to Cape Town, South Africa.

Then came “Best Piece of Luck,” whereby, in a raffle, I won a Rex-Rotary Printer, which enabled me to go into business, printing and selling my own postcards.

For “Best Doctor,” there were two, both in Santa Barbara: Jerry Marmorstein and Michael Fisher. 

“Best Dentist” was Mark Allen, also in Santa Barbara, who always made my own experience of ‘Going to The Dentist’ less of an ordeal.

Best Device – The iPhone. No doubt they’ve been much improved, but I’m still happy using one several years old.

Best Cat – Gaga, whom I loved so much I dedicated one of my books to his memory.

Best Employee – Peggy Sue, who managed my business for over 30 years. Since I’m still running that business, I’m surrounded by pleasant reminders of her.

Best Home – A cottage I rented in Bend, Oregon when teaching at the college there. The only heating was from a wood-burning stove. But the pipes froze and burst, while I was away over Christmas. I returned to find the place flooded, and sadly, had to move out. 

Best Job (and Best Boss) – Teaching, as Associate Professor of History, on two round-the-world voyages with the “Floating University” of Chapman College, under a gifted administrator named Netter Worthington.

Best Celebration – In San Francisco, when friends gathered and held a party for me after I became a U.S. Citizen in 1969.

Best Close Relative – My Uncle Marsh Adler, who sponsored my immigration to the U.S. in 1955.

Best Form of Travel – Hitchhiking. Though many people still frown upon it, in all my hundreds of rides, I never had a single bad experience but made some good friends.

Best Garment – A brown corduroy jacket which was stylish enough to be considered “dressy,” but sufficiently durable to be worn on excursions in the hills.

Best Cookies – Tim-Tams… three layers of chocolate. Since discovering them in Australia, I find them here at Trader Joe’s (just called “Aussie-Style Chocolate Cookies”).