Well folks, another year has come and is almost gone. I don’t know the reasons why this year seems like it’s been speed-of-light faster than previous years.

Maybe it’s because I have a daughter driving and a year and a half away from completing high school. Maybe it’s because my little one is now a middle schooler. Maybe it’s because my birthdays continue to pile up and I’m closer to the end than the beginning. Maybe 24 deadlines a year have become rote behavior and not cause for a panic attack because we’ve met them for so long now. Or maybe, just maybe, there’s an unconscious, internal clock seeping into consciousness.

Regardless, 2018 is coming to a close. While that realization hits hard and fast, there’s much to be thankful for at the paper, in my life and even in the world. And my thanks begin with the child born on Christmas in giving me grace and saving me.

Most important for this column is the fact I’ve been bringing readers of the Business Times stories, news and information (and the occasional column that hits home — good or bad) for more than 18 years. When I look back in how I ended up here in Grand Junction, all I’ve been through in getting here, what’s happened to me personally and professionally and with the paper since that time and how blessed I’ve been to provide the best, local news source for all of these years, I can reach behind and give myself a pat on the back. I also think it’s high time and overdue. So thank you for reading, advertising and supporting this great, little newspaper all these years. It’s been my honor and pleasure to bring you this product. We’ve got several good years left in us, too.

You’ll notice I’m not bragging about 18 years of deadlines on columns. Although my editor, Phil, might say that might be my most extraordinary accomplishment given how much I despise deadlines. Maybe it isn’t hatred, but I’m certainly not a fan or abider of deadlines. I tend to miss them, add to them and completely forget them. I say it’s for the good of the paper (well, I contort logic and reason) because it’s all about advertising. Therefore my thanks to Phil for tolerating me and my habits on deadlines all these years. I could not ask for a better work partner in creating the Business Times.

Speaking of my columns, I am grateful for freedom of speech. It’s something we take seriously here at Grand Junction’s great little newspaper. Many readers who disagree with me exercise this right to my shock and horror via snail mail and my inbox on a regular basis. You don’t get to see this most American of rights because I’m big on decorum and propriety on our op-ed pages. Some things that have been written to me just aren’t fit to print. Another thing I’m thankful for at the Business Times are our journalistic standards of keeping advertising, editorial and content in their proper places. In this partisan day and age of seemingly an opinion in every story, I’m thankful we publish a product that reflects how journalism works. While it can become tedious, I’m thankful we get the opportunity to teach this to folks who wish to do things the right way and that we have readers and advertisers who already understand the practice.

On an even more broad note, I’d like to thank Republicans and Democrats for their supernatural efforts in providing me with a treasure trove of topics to write about. Your blatant unconstitutionality is priceless for a columnist. Your ability to not care less about the citizens of this country while protecting your crony laden, insider tradin’ and excrement wadin’ jobs is comic gold for writers and critics. It’s also serious, so I’m thankful — but more hopeful — citizens will continue to understand just how dangerous an all-powerful federal government is and can become. Because that’s where many problems stem from — along with similar thinking “problem solvers” elected to state and local jobs.
I don’t care about your politics and am happy to stand with anyone against tyranny. So I’m thankful for patriots of all stripes.

Last, but most important, I’m thankful for friends and family and the love and care they bring into my life. Yes, my daughters have things on warp-drive related to my time here on this orb. But they also bring into my life enjoyment, pride and love beyond measure. I can’t slow them down, but I can use this time to continue to understand unconditional love and bestow what wisdom I’ve gleaned from a tough, unforgiving world onto them as they become the women God created them to be. I’m glad Dad is around for one more Christmas even though I know he’d rather spend Christmases in eternity with Mom in heaven. I’m thankful for the many friends I’ve made since moving here. After all, you guys are all I’ll have once the kiddos have had enough of my antics disguised as parenting. I’m grateful I have so many who’ll listen to my troubles so intently before telling me it’s time to shut up and get another beer.

I could not be in a better place. It’s truly a wonderful life.