SCOOTER GIRL: In Thanksgiving

For the past few weeks, people on Facebook have been posting the things that they are thankful for during this season of Thanksgiving. This column is about all the things that I am thankful for this year.

It’s been a tough year for many as our economy aimed at a deep depression. According to a U.S. government statistics, in October the unemployment rate rose from 9.8 to 10.2. This news is not heartening, as news reports keep telling us that we are heading out of the recession. Citing from the same source: “In October, the number of unemployed persons increased by 558,000 to 15.7 million.” That’s a lot of people who are now unemployed as we head into the Christmas season. That’s a lot of people who may be thinking that they don’t have anything to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

We’ve seen the loss of Buell in the American motorcycle production business and the closing of many small businesses as well. This list includes CBX Man and the Saab dealer in Kunkle.

These factors have led to an increase in the demand for special services such as food banks and clothing centers. In last week’s news paper there was a story on a local food pantry who was switching to the cheaper chicken for Thanksgiving dinner rather than the more expensive traditional turkey. “Good Morning America” has been encouraging donations of food, “Dinner with a Friend” and coats to keep warm.

Despite the gloomy predictions for the economy, the staggering statistics of people who are below the poverty level and the decline of the middle class, there is hope. Hope that can be seen in the generosity of people who donate their time, talents and money to help their fellow Americans in these dire times.

In talking to people like my dad, who remembers the really hard times of the Great Depression, these days seem better somehow. There are no bread lines. There are no carpetbaggers. We have sugar. What there are are increased demands on our already taxed social services and less people to work at these services.

When we look back, will these be the best of times or the worst of times? I think it depends on how well we serve those who are more in need than us and how well we share what little we may have.

So in keeping with the spirit of this holiday, I would like to take this time to be thankful for all the things that I have been blessed with this year. First, I’d like to thank all of the volunteer firemen from Jackson Twp. and others who came and quickly put out the fire at our house two weeks ago. Without their quick thinking and close proximity things could have been much worse. This company is all volunteer and that is a gift to the entire community.

I would like to take this time to thank the entire Weekender staff, especially my editor Mike Lello who gave this column the go-ahead more than two years ago. How time flies when you are having fun. This column has brought joy to me in writing stories about motorcycle enthusiasts that may not have been given a voice anywhere else. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the idea of the press. Hopefully, the audience has been shown the generous, giving and caring side of the biker culture and learned a little bit about motorcycle riding as a sport.

I would be remiss in not being thankful for my family and extended family; we’ve certainly gotten a lot closer thanks to the fire! Ah, a silver lining for sure. Jim and Kim, your floor is still very comfortable. Grandpa and Giles are bonding again as well.

And of course I am deeply grateful to all of the friends I’ve made as I’ve written these columns over the years. So many wonderful stories came from my friends at the Wyoming Valley Motorcycle Club. My favorite photos are the ones I’ve taken of Cheryl riding her Harley with a cigarette in her mouth! The three-part series on the restoration of the Honda CBX by Dennis McCartney was truly a learning experience I’ll not soon forget. Thanks to you all too numerous to mention.

So before you dash out for Black Friday shopping or step into the yard to put up your Christmas decorations, take a moment to be thankful for the small things in your life that keep you going and make life bearable. If you don’t get that new car under the tree, be thankful that your old car is still running.

w