How grateful can anyone really be when a pandemic has paralyzed the world; when social unrest has swept across America and when divisions in our populace are as deep as they've been since the upheaval of the 60's?

Pretty damn grateful, in my view!

Even if I'm not socializing with my friends, I know that they're there and that we will all gather again when the current struggles pass (or lessen).

Pretty damn grateful since I have food in my belly, a roof over my head and plenty of booze in my cabinet.

Pretty damn grateful since steps have been taken to turn politics in this nation in a sane direction.

Most of all, I'm really, really grateful for the magical times that I've spent with the terrific crowd I've fallen in with. If it came to it, I think I could survive just on the stories that have sprung forth from the kooky, brilliant, beautiful and loving group of people that have become my friends.

Thank you all. Today I am toasting you from a distance.

Happy Thanksgiving.— Peter Bretl