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Entry date: 11-24-2022 - Happy Thanksgiving - Letters to My Friends

Dear Friends,


Happy Thanksgiving. I choose to give thanks today for the things that I am thankful for this year. I hope you all take the time to do the same thing. It’s necessary sometimes, right?


I’m thankful for what this blog has given me. When I decided to do this, I had an inkling of how much work it was going to be, but I didn’t really know how rewarding it would be or challenging. It’s been both and I’ve pushed myself as a writer in a lot of ways. I am very thankful for everyone who has read the blog, too, so thank you all.


I’m thankful for how supportive my family has been about this. Even when it has been a bit uncomfortable for them, I think everyone understands why I am doing this. The last thing I want is to make anybody uncomfortable and I am truly thankful for how forgiving people have been. That whole understanding part is the best, really.


Looking back at the beginning of the year, I am thankful for my buddy, Rick, who helped get me through the end of the school year last year. We made the best of a trying situation, and it would have been a lot longer year without getting to commiserate on a regular basis. I should probably thank the kids who were in my class last year, too. I miss those little creeps a lot.


You forget, I think, as a teacher how much you love’em. As I write this, I can picture the classroom and see the little faces I haven’t thought much about in the past five months. The little souls touched my life and made it better, even though if I look back at some of my blogs from the first few months, I probably didn’t say as much. I am thankful for my experience as a second-grade teacher, though.


I appreciate my Father Figures bandmates very much, too. We worked on songs in the spring and recorded in May. It will probably be the last time we ever go into the studio together and I’m glad we did it. We played our last show in January of this year and while it was not particularly special, I’m not sad it was our last gig. I have a lot more to say about this, but I am eternally grateful to Bobby and Michael for what they have brought to my life.


Another really fun thing from the early part of the year that I am thankful for is my association with Club Placebo. I would have never thought that I would get to spend a couple of days with Alan and Rick from Sun City Girls and the opportunity to help them tell their story was amazing. I am a very lucky dude. Huge thanks to all the Club Placebo crew. Tony has become one of my favorite people and I feel lucky to know his wonderful family, too. Bil, Michael P, Rob, Michael C, Tony…just great dudes to create with and build something killer.


We had a fun camping trip in March, too. I love my outdoor family of friends and can’t wait to do it again. Arizona is a great place to live. I have to give another nod to Michael and Alice for being wonderful friends to explore the state with and have good times. Y’all know who you are… Thank you to my beautiful nurses for fixing Liam’s hand up, too. Apache Lake will not be forgotten by the kid any time soon.


Speaking of Liam and Teresa, and all the kids, really, I’m so thankful they are willing to go on adventures with us. I loved driving across country with L & T on our way to Maine in June. There was something that was so satisfying about it for me as a dad. We explored the country a little bit and it was fun to see it through their eyes. This was a great opportunity for us to bond and I think we bonded in a way that we had not bonded before. They are troopers. They could have complained a lot more than they did, but they were great traveling companions.


I have to say how thankful I am for the opportunity that Doug affords us to spend so much time in Maine in the summer. It’s good for all of us to get up there and breathe the fresh air and soak up the woods. Our family in Maine is amazing, too. I am thankful for all of them. Ellen, Will, and Ned are about the best cousins you could ask for and I am a better person for knowing them. Sylvia and Hal, too, and Debbie and John… I can’t wait to see you all. Thank you for loving us and taking care of Rhondi when she is there.


If not for the rest of the people who help keep us sane when our family is on different sides of the country, I would be a sad and lost soul. Mike and Tom and Renee and Quentin helped me stay sane so much this year. Thank you. My golf crew, too, which includes Rick, allowed me to be distracted enough to not miss Rhondi more than I did.


My dad and stepmom and mom and stepdad helped us a great deal, too. I couldn’t do this without them in my corner. I am thankful for the love and guidance they bring. Even when they don’t realize it, they are supporting us because I know they are there. It was so great to have some time with a big portion of the Arizona family at the wedding last month. I’m thankful for my new daughter-in-law and her family, too.


I have so much to be thankful this year. I haven’t even mentioned the biggest part of my gratitude. Rhondi is the best part of my life and I love what we have built and are building together. Without her, I would be a pretty sad dude (understatement). I am so thankful for you, babe. Thank you.


Thank you all. Thanks to all my family of friends and family around the country. Thank you for taking this journey with me. Take a moment to celebrate all you are thankful for, too. There is so much if you just take a look.


Here is to you and your health. Much love.


See you tomorrow.



The man, the myth... Frank surveying the yard. I thought this was something I would want to remember some day. He's getting older and I'm thankful for his stinky kisses.

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1 comentario


thegoodrick
thegoodrick
24 nov 2022

What a wonderful post, again, thanks for just being Tom! There are a lot of people that are quite thankful for being able to spend time with you also, Mr. Reardon, we all need opportunities to hear and be heard, even the rambunctious lot we had last year.

Best on your year in 4th grade, and the trials and tribulations that will come with it. Having you on the second grade team last year made it at least an adventure, rather than just a wanderlost…


Have an awesome day with your family. I’m sure the house smells unbelievable with Rhondi behind the oven. Peace!

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