Good Morning Pigskin Pickers!

 

It is Thanksgiving week and let me be the first to say “Happy Thanksgiving” to each of you!  A couple of weeks back, I asked everyone to submit feedback on what they were thankful for and how whatever they were thankful for makes their life better.  Unfortunately, I did not get a huge response, but I did receive one response that spoke to what I was thinking and it is this response that will begin our week 10 blog.  

 

It is well worth the read, and expresses sentiments I am sure many of us share…and I am hoping it brings a smile all around!

 

To remind everyone what was asked…there were two specific questions:

 

1)  Why are you thankful?, and

2)  How does what you are thankful for translate into making your life better?

 

Likely, we would all put a slightly different spin on these questions; but I think at the center of why each of us is thankful, would be a common theme.  The response I am highlighting speaks to why we celebrate Thanksgiving…as well as the importance of family and I hope you take as much from it as I did.

 

Enjoy!

 

“Oh my!!!  First of all, Hi!  I miss you and Auntie sooo much!  This has been a hard couple of months for me, being so far from family, when I am used to seeing you at every softball, basketball and tennis match!  Being here however, has been good for me in that I have learned to truly appreciate what matters most to me in my life.  What am I thankful for?  Number one is family.  No ifs/ands/or buts about it!  Family is the one thing that is forever in our lives and I cannot wait to see the world’s greatest family come Christmas time!  I have a countdown in my room!  So, what I am MOST thankful for is and always will be my family.  And, the unconditional love you guys give!  

 

Second, I am thankful for all of my friends, old and new.  Bailey said it best when she told me she missed me and that “you never really know how important something is until it is gone!”  And I miss Anna and her family.  (They sent me a sweet care package!)  Lastly, I am thankful for the opportunity to get an education and get to play basketball at Oregon Tech and sooo much more!

 

How does all that translate to make my life better??  That makes my life great!  I’m going to again focus on the family for this one.  Without my family, I would have nothing!  The love, support and laughs that my family gives me is immeasurable and for that I am forever thankful! 

 

I am missing home a lot!  And am a little homesick too, but the weekly updates make me feel like I am home…I can almost hear JB’s voice when I read them! 

 

Love and miss you guy’s so!” 

 

Angi       

 

Thank you, Angi, for these thoughts on the importance of family and friends.  I know they are shared by all of us!

 

Over the past two years we (Pami and me) have lived a life we had not thought possible before it began to unfold.  We have been blessed to watch a new life develop before our very eyes.  At the same time, our retirements allowed us to experience our own children and our nieces in an equally unique way.  We saw both our “baby” girls get married – to men who love and respect them and whom we love and respect in kind.  We have seen Jill become a new mother and develop in this role, with Danny right along side.  We saw Robyn and Angelo move into their new home and tackle every form of home ownership imaginable (can you say making 20′ drapes!) in the first year, and we have seen our circle of family and friends come together in a way that was truly remarkable when Pami fell and required a three week rehabilitation 2,000 miles from home.  

 

I am thankful for each of these things…and so many more.  It seems with each year we think life may get in the way and create a separation of our family unit, only to be reminded and brought back together at the very times we think we are moving apart.  Relish the time with this family.  It is a unique blend of views, personalities and motivations…but in the end, it has more love for each other than any family I have ever seen.  What is more, it has stood tall through some very difficult times and I agree with Angi.  Number one is FAMILY.  Thank you one and all for being “who” you are and being “there” any and every time you are needed!  Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Ok, with that said, let’s get down to business. 

 

Before we get to week 11, which looks to be an ugly week for yours truly…we need to review week 10.  Wasn’t it just one week ago that we were praising Sarah’s prognostications?  I believe it was…and it looked likely that she was a shoo-in for the coveted Riley C. award. 

 

Well, as fate often does, it stepped in and inside of 7 short days…that “wild card” Sarah earned for a future entry back into the Riley C. contest, had to be used following a week in which Sarah experienced the week’s low win total, posting 6 wins against 8 losses.  Picking football can often be a humbling endeavor, but look at it this way…if it were easy, we would all be in Las Vegas making our livings picking parlays! 

 

Keep your chin up Sarah…you are still in the running, having used the aforementioned wild card, which means you are clear of at least 12 players through week 10.  Unfortunately, you no longer have a “get back in free” card, but all it will take is another perfect week and you already know that can be done! 

 

As for the week’s highs… how about Mats and Sandy each posting 10 wins and leading the field!  Well done Ladies!

 

Tom and Karen are still very much in control, which has the good Dr. Ken asking…”are they scoring this contest?”  The answer is no, when it comes to scoring results, but make no mistake, they are a formidable pair and you will need your “A game” to catch them! 

 

We look forward to seeing everyone Thursday.  Godspeed to the Reed’s, who will be celebrating Thanksgiving together in Oregon and will be missed.  For everyone else, bring your appetites and stretch pants!  Hugs and love to all!    

 

See you then!

 

Commish