(Part 3 of 3)
Here’s the third and final part of what now turns out to be a three-part answer to my question, what are we thankful for?
Over the last few years I’ve asked people through Facebook and email what it is that they are thankful for this year – as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday. This year is different. There is considerable uncertainty in America, and what had been our norms, in particular allegiance to our Constitution, have been turned upside down.
So, this year I asked” what is it you are thankful for … this year. I know this has been a challenging year for many of us. While I know we’re all thankful for families and friends, I’m asking you to dig a bit deeper and tell us, in these turbulent times, what is it for which you are thankful, and that gives you hope for the future.”
Mark Garceau
(Superintendent of Schools in Westerly, RI)
“Above all, I am thankful for my family. I’m lucky to wake up next to the love of my life every morning (actually I feel thankful just to wake up every morning). Our kids are healthy and happy with partners who, like them, are just good, smart, funny and kind people. And my wife and I are so thankful for our first grandchild born in July and who will be celebrating her first Thanksgiving with us on Thursday.
“I am also thankful to be able to still do work that I love with caring and passionate teachers and staff, great school leaders, and amazing kids. Our students are capable of amazing things and they make us proud every day in all kinds of ways.
“Finally, I’m thankful to be part of a great community here in Westerly and for the relationships I have with other town leaders and departments, our friends in organizations such as the Rotary, the Chamber, our social service agencies, and others.”
Michael Fine
(Former director of the Rhode Island Department of Health. Also, an author and columnist for WhatsUpNewp.)
“I’m thankful for nurses and doctors who listen. I’m thankful for people who are organizing themselves in their own communities to provide primary care for everyone. I’m thankful for the people who aren’t giving in to fear, and are willing to stand up and speak out for the rule of law and democracy itself. For those with a backbone and a conscience. I’m thankful for journalists who ask hard questions and aren’t being intimidated by bullies. I’m thankful for the time to think and write. I’m thankful for people who put their families and their communities before themselves. I’m thankful for the Ukrainians who are defending their and our freedom. I’m thankful for everyone who reads. For our farmers. Our carpenters. Our plumbers and our electricians.
“What gives me hope is listening to the voices of people I disagree with, and for the grain of truth in what they say. What gives me hope is knowing that the pendulum always swings both ways. What gives me hope is young people who can look honestly and our failures and learn from them, despite our handicapping them and denying them many of the opportunities that we have. Hope is irrational. But life is a miracle, and irrational as well.”
Angela Goethals
(Angela Goethals is known for her roles in movies like Home Alone (played Linnie McCallister), Jerry Maguire, and Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon. She is also recognized for her television work, including her recurring role on 24. She currently lives in Westerly and is a member of the town’s school committee.)
“I’m thankful for the lifeline of the arts in our world always, and especially now. And, for all the creatives, the creators, the builders, and the ones who ask the questions. Wishing you a beautiful, restful Thanksgiving.”
Gina Picard
(Superintendent of Chariho Regional Schools)
“This season always brings reflection, and over the past year that reflection has taken on an even deeper meaning for me. Since the passing of my father, I have been very intentional about growing myself as an individual, as a mother, as a learner, as an educator, and simply as a human being. That loss reminded me how important it is to keep learning, to stay open, and to push myself to grow in new ways.
“What I am most looking forward to in the year ahead is the opportunity for all of us to continue learning and growing together as a community. In Chariho, we talk often about kindness, connection, and the power of how we respond to one another, and those values shape everything we do. Even in challenging moments, we have the ability to lift each other up through patience, understanding, and compassion.
“I remain focused on everyday moments that remind us what truly matters. As we look toward 2026, my hope is that we continue building a community and world where everyone feels supported and where learning, growth, and kindness remain at the heart of who we are.”
Wishing you and your listeners a warm and restful Thanksgiving. Thank you again for the opportunity to share.
James Celenza
(Former director of the Rhode Island Committee on Safety and Health)
“When I resolve to consider why the worst unimaginable horrors occur, forced to acknowledge that such events will happen, that no one is exempt from undeserved pain and sorrow, I like to wander down to the somber harbor which snakes into an aimless river that undulates through this city that is nick-named ‘a haven for the distressed… ‘ There are one or two small boats draped in white sails that resemble swans in repose. The surrounding environs are tranquil; the usual cascade of -dooming traffic is but an obstinate trickle. Obediently, I follow the concrete walkway along the river. A single stationary seagull is resting on a stone balustrade. ‘Hello Dr Chekhov,’ I say. But I have startled him. And he rises, boosted by the heated thermals from the sun and the flowing waters. There are laws of fluid and thermal dynamics that can explain this…
But not the other….”
Leonard Levin
(Retired Providence Journal editor)
“I’m thankful that I’m still functioning at my age (94) and still able to do most of the things I’ve done all my life.”
Lina Carreiro O’Leary
(Former president of Stand Up for Animals in Westerly)
“A roof over my head, clothes on body, shoes on my feet, food on the table and some change in my pocket. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.”
Ira Fleisher
(Owner of a monument company)
“It has been a challenging year in so many ways, but I would be remiss if I wasn’t thankful for all the advances in medicine. Between my issues and my son’s, I am grateful for those people who are committed to helping others as they traverse through difficult medical situations. Not just the doctors, but nurses who are true heroes for the professional way in which they perform their duties.”
Mark Katzman
(A registered nurse who is employed by the law firm Mandell, Schwartz & Boisclair, Ltd.)
“I am thankful for:
– Living on Aquidneck Island where there are multiple beaches and public shore access points that allow me to easily enjoy the sight and sound of the Atlantic Ocean.
– Music (readily available in this era of streaming) that can be diverting, calming or exhilarating.
– Strangers who see I am a “senior citizen” and pause at doorways to hold the door open for me.
Lorraine Adler
“I am immeasurably grateful for what I have in my life, most significantly my family and friends.
It is increasingly difficult to continue to be hopeful of the future and has become easy to slip into the pit of despair. To keep me hopeful, I try to focus on family and friends and what I can do to help people at the local level. The more I can help others, the more positive I become. Doing good deeds at the local level gives me a sense of accomplishment that is often elusive when tackling a broader goal.”
Jeanne B. Gold
(Psychologist. Retired, coordinator of Guidance and Child Study Center; school psychologist.)
“Always thankful for my health, love from my wonderful family, friends …… and my blessed life.
Also…
Thankful for wonderful feeling that music and art provide.
Thankful for beautiful sunrises, sunsets and beautiful sky.
Thankful to be able to learn something new every day.”