Is it me, or did this year just fly by?

It seems like only yesterday when we were gearing up for spring, getting the greenhouse ready and deciding which seeds to grow. I remember untangling a mess of vines to pry the makeshift door open, pausing there, and just pondering what lay ahead for the year.

Fast forward through planting, watering, weeding, watching squash and such take root, on to summer, the ups and downs of a garden bounty, festivals, parades, roller derby bouts, back to school, spooky season, and elections … and here we are together again entering the spice-filled glow of the holiday season. The season of giving.

And in that spirit of giving, here at the Shawangunk Journal, we are getting ready to unveil our annual fundraising drive on ‘Giving Tuesday’; a necessary component of day-to-day operations. And we truly appreciate all your support! The success of last year’s fundraiser was resounding, and drove home how much we must rely on you — and how much you depend on us to consistently produce quality local news you can count on.

Giving Tuesday, this year set for November 28, was created in 2012 with a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. And in our estimation, strengthening local democracy is one heck of a way to do some good. Philanthropic funds are necessary, not only to keep producing the news you’ve come to rely on, but to forge new paths, to host more events — like the Ellenville Mayoral Debate, which was a successful civic endeavor. It was so gratifying hearing from some of the local citizens who packed Shadowland that evening or watched online, that they appreciated hearing from local candidates ahead of the vote, and that we were able to provide that collaborative forum.

It was also gratifying being highlighted in an important article from The Examiner News, out of Westchester, last week (which can be found here: tinyurl.com/26au7kax). The story noted a tragedy that occurred locally, and our tireless efforts to report on the truth.

As a small but powerful team, we are transforming what local news can be. And we need your help to do that. Imagine the possibilities; with your help, how large of an impact can the Shawangunk Journal make?

Looking back at my Thanksgiving columns over the past seven years, a golden thread weaves through each one — no matter what the economy, the pandemic, rising costs, and any number of obstacles thrown at us, we remain steadfast in our desire to serve you, our faithful readers and the communities we cover, by making an impact.

Sometimes that means working around the clock (actually it means that most of the time), it means digging deep into stories and telling the truth even when we know we’ll get static from authority figures, it means looking beyond the press releases, it means being accessible, and sometimes it means simply being a listening ear.

And so, we look ahead to the future with hope and with gratitude. Thank you for joining us on this important journey.

In keeping with tradition, here’s my yearly Thanksgiving blessing:

As we slide into this holiday on the gravy train, and roll our eyes at relatives who are obviously bonkers, and pretend to be enthralled by Aunt Gladys’ macaroni necklace, and debate — or refuse to — the maelstrom of topics that swirl in the vortex of the world at large, rest assured that this moment in Time is set aside for thankfulness, for sober reflection and drunken gluttony, for slashing one more notch on the yearly belt (and perhaps loosening it a rivet or two), for catching up with those folks who share some DNA with us, for we all share some if you go back far enough.

So, listen to Alice’s Restaurant, do your Aunt Gladys a favor and marvel at her macaroni necklace or Porcelain cat collection, because tis the season for magnanimity. Indulge in that second slice, give the dogs a special helping of turkey, and call your grandma, because she’s 105 (!) and it’s ridiculous to conceive of everything she’s witnessed. Rub your belly, and the dogs, hug your loved ones before they pass out, and, as an act of ascension, throw your hands up and accept that this is the youngest you’ll ever be, so be kind. Always be kind.

And please, please pass the stuffing.