COLUMN: Thankful for family, veterans, holidays and living in a great country

At times I feel like it’s taken for granted. It’s just a day where you eat a plethora of delicious food and get a few days off from work and school. No it’s not.

It’s a day to reflect on what you are thankful for and what you have been blessed with. We are going to have over a month of Christmas. Black Friday should mark the beginning of the Christmas section of our holiday season. Let’s just take a couple days for Thanksgiving Day to sink in. Let’s stop and reflect on what we are thankful for.

I’m thankful for many things this year. So much has happened and I have changed so much in these past few months. It’s truly incredible. I’d like to take this space to say some thanks for some things that have happened and to some people very dear to me.

First, I’m thankful that the two car accidents I’ve been in were not major. I’m glad that no one was injured. I remember recently my journalism class talked about a young man from Oconee County who was killed in a car accident and was thrown from his vehicle. Anything can happen on the roads. My sympathy goes to his family. It’s stories like those that make me thankful for every time I make it off the road safely.

Second, I am thankful for the things that I have accomplished this year. I’m a part of the Academic Bowl and was a part of the One-Act play “Speed Date.” While I am thankful for the opportunities I was given in order to do these things, I am more grateful for the friends that I have made through these activities. The cast of “Speed Date” became like family… a very big and dysfunctional family. But, we always have each other’s backs and we will always remember all the fun times we had. I’m thankful Mrs. Patisaul chose that play for us to perform and thankful I was cast so that I could be a a part of this incredible experience.

Third, I am thankful to be living in the United States of America! Sure, at times I know we are all upset with the politics and the economy. But we are still living in the greatest country in the world. We have the freedom to disagree with our government. People have fought and died to protect our freedoms. People are still fighting and dying to preserve these freedoms.

I am thankful for all the soldiers who fight to keep us safe and free. If any soldiers or veterans are reading this column, thank you for your service. The entire Brown family thanks you a million times over. The sacrifices you’ve made to protect your country have not gone unnoticed, and there is no way we can thank you enough for all you do. I am extremely thankful that we have men and women fighting to ensure we will always stay a free nation.

Fourth, I am very thankful to have a wonderful friend, “uncle,” and boss named Chris Bridges. In the past two years the Barrow Journal

has been around (I’m also thankful that we are still here and going strong!!), Chris has become a member of the Brown family. He has always been a great friend towards all of us.

Whenever we’ve needed him, he has always been there. He always supports me in whatever I choose to do. He’s helped me broaden my horror movie horizon and has always been there when I needed someone to talk to. He is like an uncle to me. If I had never had the opportunity to work here, I never would have gained such a strong friendship. I’m very thankful that I’m working at the best paper around with the greatest staff around.

Fifth, this is the most important to me. I am thankful for my wonderful family. I know they will always support me in anything I want to do. I wanted to pursue even more in the Drama Department at school by trying out for more plays, and they have been very supportive and understanding of my busy rehearsal schedule.

When I have bad days, I can always talk to them about anything going on in my life. They give me advice as if they were friends and not authoritative parents.

No matter what I do, they are always proud of me. I also have very loving and supportive grandparents. I remember when they drove five hours from South Carolina to our house, then all five of us crammed into the truck to drive over three hours to Alabama.

Why would they do this? To see me get my black belt in person. Not many grandparents would do that — even parents for that matter. I have been blessed with a wonderful family and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’m thankful for those of you who take the time to read my articles and thankful for those of you who read this one. I’m glad that you enjoy reading them, and I hope you will continue to.

There are more things I am thankful for, but I don’t have unlimited space in the paper. Not many of us realize everyday what we’ve got. Thanksgiving gives us at least a day to reflect on what we are blessed with.

Once you start counting them up, you’ll see how quickly they grow. While Christmas is emerging, let’s take a moment and let Thanksgiving have its day. Christmas can wait a day or two in the scheme of things.

Jessica Brown is the Barrow Journal’s photographer. You can reach her at jessica@picsbyjessica.com.