By Ray Cardello for November 23, 2023, Season 23 / Post 19

I ask your indulgence for this post is much more personal than most, but today merits such a message.

Just because this Thursday is the fourth of November, which makes it Thanksgiving, we cannot forget the many problems this country faces, which we have documented for the last three years. Some believe this is the best American holiday ahead of only the Fourth of July. Thanksgiving is a purely American holiday. We celebrate the day regardless of our ethnicity or Religion. It is a day to celebrate the fruits and benefits of being born in the greatest country with the most incredible political experiment in history.

We have people who are paid vast amounts of money to face the camera every night to convince us we are a racist country built on the blood and sweat of slaves. They tell us the deck is stacked in favor of the wealthy ruling class, who want to keep the middle and lower class from climbing up the ladder. They convince the Black and Brown communities that they are, and always will be, the oppressed. Schools start teaching these tales in preschool, and the recent anti-Israel demonstrations are proof of the indoctrination of our children. They gather by the thousands, armed with a narrative but not with the truth. When asked about the facts, these young people embarrass themselves and the system with their ignorance.

Despite all of the negatives spewed by the Left, Americans have much to be thankful for. We learned a lesson during the pandemic: We must rely heavily on our inner circle of friends and family. We can trust the people closest to us to be by our sides and cover our backs. The Government has shown us that they talk a good game to achieve office, but we are forgotten as soon as their hand touches the Bible. It is A cruel but healthy revelation that reinforces what we already know. The circle is strength, and we have what we need within. Our circle deserves our attention and energy; if filled with the right people, what we give to our circle will come back to us manyfold.

We are fortunate to have two circles, much like one of Kamala’s beloved Venn Diagrams. One is in New Hampshire with our generational friends and families, and our newer circle of dear friends is in Maine. Our Maine circle goes by the moniker the People of the Pond. These folks have completed the magical experience of Bear Pond and have solidified the importance of friendships in our lives. It was like a mystical magnet that drew us all together. We, of course, share our love of Maine and the Pond, but we also share a love of companionship, our country, our families, and our God. It is a unique dynamic that we all cherish and work to strengthen. It is these relationships that we not only give thanks for every day but give us hope that our circles can grow. The power of the Pond needs to be experienced to understand it, but when people do, they get it and feel it. So, on Thanksgiving Day, I give thanks for that. Not the things that we have but for the incredible people we share life with. Selfishly, I wish every one of them health, for I want them around to enjoy for many years to come. God Bless you all, and Happy Thanksgiving