Last year, I wrote a long blog essay about all of the reasons I'm thankful this season. Instead of writing an essay this year, I thought I'd just hit the reasons themselves ...

I'm thankful that this year, as in the past few years, my son's in-laws are gracious and loving enough to invite us to their family celebration. We have been truly blessed by our daughter-in-law Missy, her parents Gene and Linda, brother Michael and sister Deanne, and all of their extended family. (Her uncle is Sean from Everything I Know Is Wrong.) They've been wonderful to our son and to us. Even though our family is all out on the west coast, we have been fortunate to become part of a second family in Minnesota.

I'm also thankful for all of my family out in California -- my mom and dad are both still around and in great health. I owe them phone calls today. I'm thankful for my sister, with whom I fought constantly when we were kids and with whom I would trust my life today. I'm thankful for my own in-laws, who are on the phone right now with the First Mate. I'm thankful for my father's wife, who always welcomes us with open arms whenever we visit.

I'm very thankful for the Northern Alliance guys, AM 1280 The Patriot, and our Little Radio Show That Could. I'm grateful for Hugh Hewitt, who convinced The Patriot to create it.

Thanks to God also for George Bush's re-election and our men and women in harm's way, defending our country and liberating the oppressed. You may disagree with my perspective on this; so let's also thank God that we live in a country where we can all express our disagreement without picking up rifles or throwing bombs. If nothing else, the past few years should have demonstrated how precious that gift truly is.

I am enormously thankful to CQ readers. This blog has exploded since last Thanksgiving, and I am amazed and humbled by your readership and friendship. Bill at INDC Journal pointed out a report from Blogpulse that showed CQ as the eighth-most linked political blog of the election season. Thank you all for that gift.

Lastly, I am most thankful for the gift of my family -- The First Mate, my son David, my daughter-in-law Missy, and the Little Admiral, Kayla. They are truly the light of my life, and after all of the health issues the First Mate has had, this Thanksgiving is all the more precious to me. We're both grateful to our friend Mary, who donated the kidney that's kept the First Mate alive to see this holiday season.

This turned out to be more of an essay than I thought -- but it's easy to do when you start counting your blessings. I'll take the rest of the day off to relax and enjoy them.

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