37 reasons to be thankful

"Every Thanksgiving we take stock of things for which South Whidbey residents can be thankful. Here are 37 reasons and you can probably think of more.1. MTV still not available on local cable.2. We have more doctors than we had last year.3. Pretty soon, we won’t have to get a loan to pay our car tabs.4. We actually saw one of those “sun breaks” last week.5. We have a community Thanksgiving dinner, beginning at 2 p.m. tomorrow at the American Legion Hall.6. County leaders are raising taxes on tourists, not us.7. Most of our kids aren’t taking illegal drugs, probably.8. Next year we’ll have double the fun and lettuce with two farmers markets.9. I-695 cuts mean we can do even more reading while waiting in the ferry line.10. The old bell is back at Bayview High School.11. So far, nobody’s died in a fire or traffic accident this year.12. Shirley’s Kitchen is almost back.13. Clinton is making progress on its double-wide library.14. As last weekend’s talent show showed, we have plenty of talent.15. So far, Puget Sound Energy has stopped all major storms from hitting us this fall.16. Our juveniles are out of jail because the juvenile jail is on hold.17. The South Whidbey School Board is undergoing another peaceful transition of power. 18. Our students are generally above average.19. South Whidbey State Park is now open in November, if you haven’t noticed.20. If Y2K does turn out to be serious, our “Neighbors” group is prepared.21. There will be no Saratoga Resort.22. Ray Gabelein, 73, is still baling hay every summer.23. Poor kids got new stuff for school thanks to the new Back to School Project.24. The former state game farm near Coupeville is now protected under the ownership of the Au Sable Institute.25. Despite the state’s best efforts to make it confusing, nobody’s gotten killed yet in Clinton ferry traffic.26. Nichols Brothers keeps landing new contracts.27. The Comprehensive Plan remains unfinished, sparing hundreds from suffering a heart attack if it’s ever actually completed.28. South Whidbey residents spent the year helping hurricane and earthquake victims throughout the world.29. This was one of the best whale watching years ever.30. It looks like more badly-needed land will be acquired by South Whidbey Parks & Recreation.31. The South Whidbey Youth Center is still going strong after 10 years of service to the community.32. Progress was made in reviving loganberry production at the Greenbank Farm.33. We’ll have at least half a new ferry dock before I-695 kicks in.34. There’s no demand for needles at the county’s new needle exchange.35. We probably won’t beat last year’s record of 90 consecutive rainy days.36. Hearts & Hammers patched up a record number of homes this year.37. Finally, if you’re reading this, chances are you’ll be around tomorrow to enjoy yet another Thanksgiving dinner."

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