My Thanksgiving Wishes To You All...

Tomorrow is a major holiday here in the United States: Thanksgiving.  

Basically, it's a day where we're supposed to remember just how good we have it in life.  It's a day we take a pause and give thanks to our maker and to each for the good things in our lives, be they a successful harvest (the original idea behind the day) or our family, friends, jobs, whatever. Families will gather everywhere to (over) indulge in a traditional feast, maybe to watch sports on television, perhaps to lay plans for the coming Christmas season.  All in all, it's a great day and one that's almost always enjoyable for all.

On this day, it's pretty easy to work golf into your thanks on Thanksgiving, some large, some small.  Maybe you got your first and only hole in one this year.  Give thanks for it.  Perhaps you saved enough spare change to buy that driver you've been eyeing for a long time.  That's reason to give thanks, don't you think?  Maybe you got rid of your slice and finally hit a nice, long draw.  If I were you, I would get on my knees and give thanks, very, very loudly. 

Those are the little things, of course.  For many of us, golf is a major part of our plans for the long weekend.  Some of us will play tomorrow, as many courses will be open at least in the morning.  Perhaps your regular foursome figured out a way to get an early round in before everyone heads off to their Thanksgiving feasts. Or maybe you'll play with a favorite uncle or not-seen-often niece or nephew.  Maybe some of us will tee it up with our Dads for the only time of the year.  If that's the case, definitely give thanks -- one should never take family for granted, as too many of us have learned over the last year.  Scores and winning don't matter then -- just being together does. 

I have a group of friends that I play with fairly regularly, and the jocularity and inside jokes can get intense out there.  We know each other pretty well, and we know each other's games even better.  There's Lucky Pierre, a guy who always seems to get a great bounce off of a tree or a cart path when he hits a wayward shot.  There's Alice, the guy whose putts always seem to stop two inches from the cup.  Until last year, I was The Squirrel, because I spent too much time scrambling in the woods looking for a sliced or hooked tee shot.  I know some of the guys hated it when I finally put things together properly and quit hitting hard turning shots.  Anyway, those are just the nicknames...the jokes and ribbing is endless.  But they are jokes and nicknames made in good nature.  We all want each other to do well...but we all want to be at least a stroke better than the other guy.  We don't mind too much when we lose, though, it's only a dollar and wee bit of pride until next time.  It makes for a fun day with good people. For those clowns, I give thanks, and more than I can possibly say here.

Really, at the end of the day, maybe that's the true point of golf: being together.  A golf course is a wonderful place to catch up, to have fun, and to spend time together. 

And for that, give thanks -- every time you tee it up.

Finally, I would like to give my thanks to each and every one of you that takes the time to come read my dribblings.  I really appreciate that.   I always appreciate every visit and I always love it when people take the time to comment on the subject at hand, even if it is to point out just how full of caca I am.  I may not always be right -- ask my wife, it's actually quite rare -- but at least we're getting to spend time together and talk about something we love, ye olde game o' golfe.  And for that I give thanks to you, and more than you can possibly imagine.

So, to sum up, have a great Thanksgiving everyone, and even if it is not a holiday in your country tomorrow, know that we'll be tipping a glass in your honor sometime during the day.  If you are traveling, be safe and be patient.  If you are golfing, hit 'em well.  Most of all, no matter what, enjoy the day.

With kind regards,

Charles