Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle

When I was a little boy about this time of the year my father, whom I have written about several times in this column, was assured to say, “Pretty soon it will be Thanksgiving.” My brother Jeff and my sister Judith and I still say that to each other regardless of what time of the year it is.

When I was a kid Thanksgiving time signaled a couple of different things. Kids were recovering from the World Series flu, which meant you stayed home and either listened to the World Series on the radio or watched it on TV. Now, as sure as the leaves are falling, begins the systematic announcement of the death of a grandparent which signals the beginning of deer hunting season. It goes something like this:

Question: Why isn’t Tom in school today?

Answer: I think his grandma died.

Question: Is that the same grandma that died last year at this time?

Explanation: No, that was his other grandma, but that one will die again next deer season.

I never took into full account that you really are supposed to give thanks for things that happened in your life so for 2009, here it goes:

1) I still have a job.

2) A new tattoo that I will tell you about in a future column.

3) Motorcycles.

4) Ski season is pending.

5) My recovered mental health. (Damn this has been a tough year).

6) My sobriety.

7) The team of crack physicians that took the end of 2008 and so far all of 2009 to save my wretched carcass.

Flat screen televisions.

9) My trip to Sturgis (see photos).

10) My new cat Blanket (I think I adopted a crack baby). By the way, can you feed a cat Prozac? What would happen if you gave a cat Valium?

11) Somehow the Sheik of Cherry Creek (Greg Hollenback) has recovered from a bad ATV crash and is still on the job.

12) I got to see Van Morrison live.

13) My friendship with some of the best people I’ve ever known in my life — you know who you are.

14) MY Broncos, MY Rockies, MY Nuggets, MY Avalanche and MY 20.

15) I thank God I got to turn 66 years of age (remember the only guy who wants to be 97 is the guy who’s 96). If only I could add a six I could be the beast.

16) Laura Lieff. Without her there would be no column.

17) I currently have no blood relatives in prison.

18) I have underwear older than the girls in these pictures.

19) Handguns and mean dogs.

20) I don’t have swine flu. Yet.

21) People I’m not.

22) Nieces in the lobby at Washington, D.C. (When I was in a hotel in D.C. recently, I noticed a lot of older men saying goodbye to their nieces in the lobby).

23) Medical marijuana — you never know.

24) Dr. Armodios Hatzidakis, orthopedic surgeon to the stars. (On behalf of Chuck “The Baron” Bonniwell and me).

25) The general manager of the Glendale Center of the Performing Arts — the master himself, Matt Dunafon.

But on a serious note, if this year was a fish, I’d throw it back. But there are some very wonderful things to give thanks for: a good divorce attorney and that my children have come through a tough year (but then again haven’t we all). So when the turkey hits the table, thank God you’re still in the land of the free and the home of the brave. You can make a mistake or two or the five million that I’ve made and still go ahead with your life. And remember this: Frodo failed, Bill Ritter’s got the ring.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Peter

Peter Boyles is a nationally acclaimed radio host who can be heard Monday through Friday on 630 KHOW 5 to 9 a.m. He has a monthly column in the Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle. Visit Peter’s blog and comment on his column, or let him know anything else that’s on your mind, by going to the Chronicle Web site at www.glendalecherrycreek.com.