A Season of Thanks for the Folks Who Keep Mississippi Moving

Here’s my list of people and things for which I am extremely grateful on this Thanksgiving. Some thoughts: I’m thankful for religious freedom allowing Americans to choose their church and participate in whatever algorithm is in play there.

Thanks for the advancements made in medical technology and for the brilliant minds who figured it out. I’ve survived a couple of scary tests lately (or, believe I have). Thank you, Jesus.

School teachers, public and private, for obvious reasons. They’re the backbone of America. Let’s be thankful for farmers’ markets.

Thanks to Beth Chandler for creating ours. I’m glad all of us aren’t alike and we have Democrats, Republicans and a few hard-headed Independents representing us in political office. However, they’ve forgotten that “no single party can achieve its goals in isolation; collaboration and negotiation are essential.” (Author unknown)

Prayers for the federal workforce caught in the middle of the government shutdown. The administration and Congress don’t understand it’s the workers who keep the country going.

I am grateful for sanitation workers who relieve us of our waste. Consider what it’d be like without them.

Thank the veterans who keep us free.

For family reunions. I recently missed ours in the postcard hamlet of Liberty in Amite County, but my sister and cousins are keeping alive what our kinfolk began decades ago. Our forebears were farmers, carpenters, lawyers, teachers, realtors and one terrific reporter (my father, who for 50 years did the only work he wanted). They loved Southwest Mississippi, but they weren’t proud of the racial atrocities that occurred in Amite County in the past and wished justice had been reached. There’s still time.

All Mississippians should be thankful for our state’s musical heritage as the “Birthplace of America’s Music.”

Enhancing this sobriquet is Grammy Museum Mississippi in Cleveland, the only official Grammy museum outside of the original in Los Angeles. The museum raises its own capital to finance a music education program for students ($200,000 through a recent gala), helping to make sure the state doesn’t lose its heritage.

The Grammy at 800 West Sunflower Road is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12-3 p.m. The country’s most ardent sportsmen realize that Mississippi’s deer herd is the country’s finest. They’d like to keep it a secret. Thanks to the state’s wildlife agency and officers for superb management of this undeniable resource.

Some people in America are hungry this Thanksgiving. That’s a sad fact and we’re ashamed.

I appreciate high school football coaches, Methodist preachers and state legislators. No other people receive more advice on how to do their jobs than holders of those positions. I realize pastors of other faiths are counseled by parishioners.

The first tomato sandwich of a new spring is one of life’s joys.

Most good small towns have a vibrant chamber of commerce. These groups hold folks together for the common good. Of similar importance are service clubs like Rotary, Lions, Exchange, Sertoma, Junior Auxiliary, Jaycees, Pilot, Kiwanis, PTA and many others. Bless the volunteers.

Most good towns are also served by a local newspaper. I wish they’d return to printing little league baseball and softball box scores. Circulation would rise immediately, allowing more news coverage. I don’t know why they ever quit it. I’m grateful that each of Mississippi’s “Big 3” college football teams has enjoyed a better season this year than last. We have a terrific trio of coaches: Charles Huff at USM, Jeff Lebby at State and Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss. Let’s keep them. You can’t have Thanksgiving without prayers, turkey, dressing and football. ---Mac Gordon is a native of McComb. He is a retired newspaperman. He can be reached at macmarygordon@gmail.com. A SEASON OF THANKS FOR THE FOLKS WHO KEEP MISSISSIPPI MOVING by Mac Gordon, GAZETTE Contributing Editor