A small sampling of people for whom I’m thankful. Not complete and in no particular order, but worth writing. I may add to it, too.
Jennifer: 14+ years of putting up with me. I don’t know how she does it. Or, for that matter, why.
Bernie & John: It’s incredible to be unconditionally loved by your kids. Plus, they’re fun to wrestle with.
Mom, Dad and Gretchen: What haven’t we been through? Actually, skip that question, because I’m finding out that this year there are quite a few new and unpleasant answers. They’re always there, though, and that’s amazing.
Linda, Todd & Sarah, Tammy, Dick, Denise & John, Lynne & Mike & Jack & Grace, Jill, Jimmy & Karen: Couldn’t ask for a better family.
Carol, Amy & Michele, Sandy & Carol Jr. & Autumn, Dorothy & Ethan, Kit & Sue, et al: Couldn’t ask for a better second family.
Bernard & Dorothy Flanders: My debt to them can never be repaid.
Jeff & Leeann & Jake: They know how to be friends, which is a hell of a lot rarer than you might think. And one of these days, Jeff and I will have a very successful show together. Probably a strip-tease show.
Kevin & Jen & Momo: My oldest friend (and his wife, who would probably be disturbed to learn that she’s my second- or third-oldest friend). Uncompromisingly honest and loving people with a real cute kid.
Josh & Jen: Smart, funny and wonderful. Josh is always expanding my world, which is just about the highest compliment I can pay.
Team RocBike: You couldn’t ask for a better gang to ride with, blog with, and be positively influenced by.
The musicians, promoters and record labels who’ve made The Jazz Session possible: What can I say? “Beyond my wildest expectations”? Yeah, that about covers it.
Chuck & Bobby D: Never were two guys more accepting of my crazed need to wave at everybody. Plus, they pick good tunes.
Jo & James: Even kinder than they are talented. And they’re supremely talented.
Sue & Jenny & Katie-Kate & Elinor: Love ’em, love ’em, love ’em. (And miss ’em, too!)
Tom & Susan: Beautiful people who made Raymond Street just barely tolerable.
Satoru: Pops up when I least expect it, and is always welcome when he does. One of those people you know will be there when you need him.
Otto: He understands and inspires.
The members of the Rotary Club of Albany: Nice people doing nice things, as Harry Shearer would say. Except in this case, it’s true.
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