Sometimes, I forget to give thanks

By Rory Ryan
Publisher
The Highland County Press

Sometimes, I forget to give thanks. As I'm getting older (who am I kidding, I'm already there), I try to be more thankful and appreciative.

I try to thank our Lord and Savior more often. I am most grateful and humble for blessings, surely most of which are undeserved.

I am blessed to have had two wonderful parents and fine siblings. My own family has been another blessing and continues to be.

In the business community, for the last 15-plus years, I have worked with some of the most talented and devoted people in the newspaper business. I trust them without qualification. They are true professionals – unlike this guy, who tends to get cranky in colder weather and these dark days after the dreaded "fall back" time change. Leave the clocks alone, already.

Our readers are grateful, too, from what many share with me. Our contributing columnists and writers are truly remarkable and very helpful to our overall operation.

Brown County attorney Christine Tailer has been sharing her creek valley stories with us since our days in the former building on West Main Street, when she first offered her columns. She has never missed a week.

Pulp and paper industry magnate Jim Thompson followed soon after Christine. Jim often writes two or three columns a week (like I used to do in my more energetic years). Jim expresses a well-researched opinion on business and the impact of politics on business, freedom and national security. He is unabashedly a supporter of the 47th president, and he has explained that to our readers. (As I recall, 47 did fairly well in Highland County this month.)

Steve Roush has contributed numerous columns and features for more than a decade. We appreciate that, and so do our readers.

Fr. Mike Paraniuk's columns began during Easter week in 2020 – in the midst of COVID-19. I contacted Fr. Mike that week and told him that we needed his inspiration for Easter 2020. Fr. Mike offered his Easter sermon for St. Mary Catholic Church in Hillsboro. We published it. And we've been publishing his wonderful sermons for almost five years. On a personal note, Fr. Mike also did this old sinner a huge favor on Sept. 3 at St. Benignus Church in Greenfield. Thank you, Fr. Mike.

Andy and Renie Bowman have been sharing their "coffee time" columns with our readers for a few years. I always enjoy their words of wisdom.

In addition to all the local sports covered by HCP sports editor Stephen Forsha, we recently added Matthew McAdow, who offers his commentary on the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals each week.

And of course, there are the many contributing writers from various local clubs and organizations like John Glaze, Jane Stowers (who I may or may not recognize when I see her at Big Ernie's Pizza), John Levo, Harold Schmidt, Jennifer West, Jim Faust, Pat Lawrence, Betty Ann Walker, Bea Fryman, Paulette Donley and certainly Angela Shepherd, who covers Greenfield Exempted Village Schools, and Jimmy Jones, who covers McClain sports and other community events.

Without a doubt, I have missed several others because of my advanced years and poor memory, and I apologize.

In addition to thanking family and co-workers, I am grateful for friendships. They are important as well. For too many years, I've probably forgotten that. That's on me.

Several years ago, I wrote a column that Lynn Neal always liked with the headline, "Giving thanks for a clean stove." I'm still thankful for a clean stove, but this Thanksgiving, we won't need it as much as we once did. Pam will be spending her day at Highland District Hospital, and I'll wrap up this week's deliveries. Our adult children will have their holiday plans, and I'll have an afternoon of watching football and maybe a frosty glass of tea. (Yeah, right.)

Speaking of football on Thanksgiving, maybe my son and I will find time to toss some backyard football again. I still remember the first time he ran back a punt and perfectly stiff-armed me in the forehead. He was about 12. Knocked me on my backside. We stopped playing aggressive football about that same time.

My childhood Thanksgivings often included early morning hunting with my dad. I think my mother was just happy to get us out of the house in suburban Fairfax. (Ask Kirk Dickey about suburban Fairfax.)

I wish all of our readers a very happy Thanksgiving. And I hope those contributing writers – including those I've not named – know that we appreciate them. Keep those stories coming.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press.