IT’S TODAY: No hurricanes, no tsunamis, no earthquakes. That’s
three things we’re grateful for in north central Pennsylvania.

This past year has been devastating for much of the world in
terms of natural disasters, and the heartbreak of Hurricane Katrina
will stay with us long after New Orleans recovers.

OK, so we have snow. Usually, we have tons of snow. Enough snow
for snowmobiling, cross-country and downhill skiing, and
snowshoeing. Driving can be pretty scary in the snow but, somehow,
that pales in comparison to the devastation we’ve seen from other
natural phenomena.

We have much to be thankful for in this neck of the woods:

* The word, “sprawl,” is a foreign concept to us. If you live in
or near a city, sprawl – shopping malls, housing developments, many
lanes of highways – is a blight. We don’t have that and we like it
that way.

* The oil industry is rebounding in McKean County, and the
timber industry is also doing well. Two great sources of jobs, and
a major contribution to our economy.

* Clean, abundant water. This may not seem like a big deal but
consider the many areas in the country, and in the world, where
drought is the catalyst for other problems such as wildfires,
starvation and disease. In years to come, water will replace oil as
the thing worth fighting for.

* Our natural beauty. A man from Cincinnati told us he wants to
live in McKean County for other things we take for granted: being
able to see the stars at night, hike through acres of serene forest
land, look out over mountainous vistas for miles in the
distance.

* Who among us isn’t still thrilled to see a beautiful bird at
the feeder, or a flock of turkeys walk across the front yard? Let’s
admit it: It’s always amazing to hear a grouse fly out of the
brush, see a deer peeking onto the highway, or watch a bear and her
cubs scamper through the woods.

* Unless you’ve been actively involved in some kind of volunteer
work, you may not realize how thoughtful and generous are people in
these little towns who support so many charities.

We could go on but you get the drift. Try making your own list,
and we can guarantee a happy Thanksgiving.