DON McCORMACK
A few weeks ago, for some strange reason, I asked you, Loyal Readers, a simple question — what are you thankful for?
I wasn’t expecting much response, but it’s never simple to gauge what reader response will be.
Assign a correspondent to cover a midget football championship game, but not the junior-varsity preliminary,
and I will be deluged with letters and emails from angry, mostly out-of-our-coverage-area parents.
Ask readers what the meaning of life is, though, and I’m just as likely to hear the sound of crickets as I am to receive much response.
So when the responses to my simple question — “What are you thankful for?” — began to show up the next day via email, then the following day also by hand delivery and on the third and fourth days also by snail mail, I was pleasantly surprised.
And they kept coming and coming and coming, at least one a day for the past three weeks, I was amazed.
Then, Loyal Readers, I began to read your letters... and I was taken aback.
There was no logical reason I could anticipate not only the number of responses that came pouring in, nor the depth of your letters.
The heartfelt, emotional thoughts and feelings many of you took the time to express in your words, knowing they would be out there for the whole wide world to see and read, is both surprising and inspiring.
Most days, Loyal Readers, I attempt to find a way to weave a few words together that might be a bit interesting, thought provoking, humorous and, yes, at times, some that come straight from my heart.
Through Monday evening, I had received more than 260 inches of words from you.
In newspaper speak, that translates to a whole heckuva lot.
This feature would have been more appropriate on Thanksgiving Day, but that day has always been reserved for the announcement of our Star Beacon All-Ashtabula County football team. One year, I moved it to the day after Turkey Day and I received almost as much criticism as we did for not covering a JV midget football game.
So I present something different than the normal sports front today and I hope you will be understanding of me breaking the mold a bit and trying something more than a bit out of the box.
Your “Thankful Fors...” begin on Page C2.
This job is pretty much my identity. As Popeye said, “I is what I is.”
So when I receive this kind of response from you, Loyal Readers, it proves that what I do for a living is still relevant... that this newspaper, even in these most difficult times when it’s not easy to plunk down your two quarters every day, still means something to you.
Sometimes, the best things in life are the most simple.
I asked, “What are you thankful for?”
You answered — en masse.
So today — the day before Thanksgiving — I am most thankful and appreciative of you, Loyal Readers.
For you have done for me what I often attempt, but seldom accomplish, for you — inspire.
Thank you.
McCormack is the sports editor of the Star Beacon. Reach him at donmac@suite224.net.
