Letters: Final notes of thanks from our readers

The Tribune opinion team’s increased attention on the integrity of our leaders is what I am grateful for this Thanksgiving.

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Editor’s note: In the spirit of Thanksgiving, our readers wrote to us to share what they’re grateful for. Today, we conclude the publishing of their letters. I am so looking forward to every last Monday of every month when John T.

Shaw of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute will highlight the statesmanship of leaders who keep our democracy healthy. I will also welcome Shaw’s spotlight on leaders who squander opportunities and on the termites among them who gnaw on the principles and rules that uphold our country. The Tribune opinion team’s increased attention on the integrity of our leaders is what I am grateful for this Thanksgiving.



— Elona Vaisnys, Chicago I’m thankful for the freedoms this country provides: freedom to have a voice. Freedom to be able to speak out on wrongs committed. Freedom to vote for our government.

I’m thankful for the Founding Fathers of this country to provide a document that we follow to this day and is not outdated. The Constitution. I’m thankful for the opportunities this country gives us: schools, work, health care.

It even supports citizens who don’t work for whatever reason. The United States of America is like a boat. If it leans too far either way, it rights itself.

I’m only sad I won’t see how great this nation will be in 100 years. — Roberto l. Garcia, Chicago I am truly thankful that the 2024 presidential campaign season has ended and Donald J.

Trump has been elected as our 47th president. I am quite thankful that he is alive, well and ready to lead our nation with great vigor. Despite our foibles, the United States is unquestionably the greatest country in the world.

Strong leadership will not only make our country greater, but the world will be a safer place as well. Let us all be grateful. — JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater, Florida Besides being nearer to family, having the ability to explore the wonders of Chicagoland and the beauty of four seasons, we are grateful to live in a state where our rights are protected and cherished.

Moving here from Florida is one of our best decisions in our lifetimes! — J. Patrick Mercier, Oak Lawn I am thankful my three adult children live in blue states. — Liz Lubiniecki, La Grange I’m thankful that the calendar reads 2024 and I have Social Security, Medicare, a library with unexpurgated titles, facilities that allow women a choice, schools with arts programs, access to hardworking people who have provided vital services to the community for years but are not citizens, drinking water that prevents cavities, students who are immunized and so much more that may not exist four years from now.

— Jerry Levy, Deerfield My husband, Greg Daly, is the oldest of seven. He has five sisters, Maureen, Eileen, Pat, Kathleen and Peggy, and one brother, John, who is married to Yvonne. Greg and I have been married for 51 years.

My husband’s sisters, his brother’s wife and I have always gotten along quite well. When my mother-in-law was widowed in 2007, my husband’s sister Pat and her husband, John, moved “Babe” (Catherine Daly) into their home. All of the siblings and I took a day or a weekend day to be with Babe.

We would get together once a month to schedule what I called “Babewatch.” As an aside, it was easy to be with my mother-in-law. She was an amazingly upbeat, kind and much loved woman.

My father-in-law was also a wonderful man. When Babe died in 2010, we decided we needed to gather more often. Over the years, we were busy raising our children and hadn’t much free time for the adults to gather.

My husband’s parents, Babe and Greg Daly, had 24 grandchildren. So in 2010, we all agreed we’d get together for each of the women’s and the two brothers’ birthdays Here we are in 2024, and we’re still having the birthday parties! My sisters-in-law and I have always liked each other. But now we have grown much closer.

I would say we love each other. We very much enjoy our time together. We share our stories, laugh, talk, rejoice at our blessings and sympathize with each other’s sorrows, aches and pains and the upsets in our lives.

My only sister, Linda, died earlier this year. I’m still grieving. But I am blessed to have the love and support of my children, my grandchildren, my friends, my neighbors and my sisters-in-law.

These are among the many things I’m thankful for this year. — Diane Daly, River Forest I don’t know if it’s a universal condition for people as they age, but it seems the older I get, the more thankful I become for life’s blessings. A sense of social connection is a major one among them.

On Thanksgiving, the plan as of this writing is to meet first with neighbors at the retirement home and friends on Facebook and, later, with homemade cranberry bread and stuffing in hand, head for the home of even dearer friends. Where I’ll marvel again at our matching worldviews. Given the limited expectations for seniors like me — handicapped, never married, childless, no immediate biological relatives — the beauty of having solid physical and emotional ties registers strongly.

Especially on the family holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas, when some unfortunates have it forcefully recalled for them that they have far less. — Tom Gregg, Niles I am blessed to have lived long enough to be old. Every day is a gift.

Many of my contemporaries, especially the smokers, never made it this far. I feel fortunate to enjoy a morning cup of coffee, the sunlight on my face and overindulgence in another Thanksgiving meal with some delightful folks. It feels good to be alive.

I have aches and pains and can’t remember what I had for breakfast when asked at dinner, but the positives outnumber the negatives most significantly. — Scott T. Thompson, Bloomington, Indiana After the holidays were over, my mother would say that she was glad the holidays were over.

Of course, I understood why she would say that, because much of the added work involved in the holidays still falls on women who do the shopping, cooking, baking, decorating, gift wrapping and cleaning. But I think the attitude that you can’t wait for the holidays to be over or that you are happy when they are is not the one you should have. I think you should bask in the warmth and glow of the candles and multicolored lights and be thankful you have these very special days to be with loved ones.

The holidays should be a time of remembering the joys of past holiday seasons and recalling, reminiscing and reflecting on those good times with family and friends and, of course, having more good times and making new memories. What really matters more than the presents is your presence for the holiday festivities. As the old song says, “Hearts will be glowing when loved ones are near,/ It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

” You should not be glad when the holidays are over. You should be slightly sad when the celebrations cease, because what you are left with are the unbearable cold, dark and depressing months of January and February; and all you have to look forward to is probably another Bear-less Super Bowl or watching the “Groundhog Day” movie over and over and over again. — Thomas E.

Caruso, Buffalo Grove Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email [email protected] ..