The stomach may think turkey, but the heart thinks of thankfulness on Thanksgiving.
Football and shopping are fine, but on this holiday, it is wise to make time for thoughtful gratitude. Because gratitude has a double purpose. It also gives rise to hope. Without hope the world would wither. The past is always present in some way, but hope feeds the future.
Many of us are grateful the midterm elections have passed. Thankfully, no significant problems were reported by the Platte County Board of Elections. That gives us hope that the era of militant poll watchers and election result deniers may be passing. Republicans won all races in the county except for a state House seat. Democrat Jamie Johnson won the District 12 seat representing the Parkville area. Johnson is also the county’s first African American state representative. That’s a hopeful sign of progress.
I am a fiercely independent voter. But I don’t trust the situation when one political party has total domination over local politics. I felt that way when Democrats ruled the roost in the 1980s. That limits the candidate choices and potential for good policy for public resources. I am glad to see Democrats make a stout showing in this election. Their losses were not by huge margins. In Platte County’s vote totals for the U.S. Senate race, Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine lost to Republican Eric Schmitt by only 386 votes. That trend gives us hope for more balance in county politics in the future.
America is divided politically and socially, no doubt about it. Let’s take a look back at another era in county politics after a divisive time called the Civil War. In November 1872, after the war sentiments had cooled a bit, the county’s voters chose liberal Republican Horace Greeley for president over fellow Republican Ulysses S. Grant. Greeley, whose campaign included a platform to end Reconstruction, had the endorsement of the Democratic party. The county was on the wrong side, Grant won the national election. But we take hope that the democratic process did not hinder the county’s bright future.
I’m grateful for community enriching programs like the Farmer’s House. This non-profit organization operates retail markets and catering services that benefit youths and adults with developmental disabilities. You can buy kitchen wares and specialty food items including “pies to take and bake” at the markets. Those working in the programs get vocational training and job experience. Farmer’s House just opened a new market at 313 Main Street in Platte City. You will also find them at 415 Main Street in Weston, and at the old apple orchard building at 23200 Missouri 273 highway between Tracy and Weston. It’s a hopeful venture.
There’s an ongoing change in the outdoors and conservation. More women than ever are deer hunting. I recently worked at a chronic wasting disease sampling site in Vernon County. Many of the hunters who came through the station were women, several beaming because they had harvested their first deer. Women will be a strong voice for conservation and green space preservation, always an issue in fast-growing counties like ours. Through last Friday, archery and firearms hunters had reported 744 deer harvested in Platte County this fall, including 485 antlered bucks. It’s a hopeful thing that wildlife still has a place in the county.
I’m grateful for variety, including in the weather. One day week before last I was sitting on my deck in a short-sleeved shirt soaking up the balmy air. Just three days later, I was outdoors all day with the morning temperature in the teens. Yet, such changes always give us hope that whatever the weather today it might be better tomorrow.
It’s a grateful thing that turkeys for roasting are available in the grocery stores at affordable prices. They may be up from previous years, but they’re still within reach. That makes me hopeful for a happy day followed by turkey sandwiches from leftovers.
I hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving Day.