By Dave Ruthenberg, Columnist
Has it really been a year since my wife and I made the move from Detroit to Enid?
With our one-year relocation anniversary coinciding with Thanksgiving weekend, this seems like a good time to reflect back and make note of the people, places and things I am thankful for and hereby offer a brief list of gratitude.
NFL: I am thankful for the National Football League or more specifically, the NFL’s schedule maker for having the foresight to only subject the rest of the nation to the spectacle known as the Detroit Lions once per year. Yes, my hometown team has been a bit of a national embarrassment for quite a while now, having just last year become the first team to successfully navigate through an entire 16-game season without recording a single victory. The Lions’ performance on Thanksgiving only served to reinforce the wisdom of the NFL in keeping the Lions away from the nation’s TV sets. Motown does enough to embarrass itself on a regular basis, so thank you NFL for doing your part to protect my hidden shame known as the Detroit Lions.
President Obama: Seriously. I really am thankful for President Obama, but for purely selfish reasons that have nothing to do with the good of the nation. You see, in only 11 months this administration, in its zeal to tear down the very tenets of free market capitalism, weaken our standing around the globe and foist socialized medicine upon us, has provided me with a never-ending source of material. With (God help us) another three years of the administration in power, I am assured I will have plenty of outrages to write about. Thank you President Obama!
Founding Fathers: As much as President Obama has provided me with a never-ending flow of source material, I am eternally grateful for the wisdom of our Founding Fathers. Their foresight and fierce desire to spare us rule by monarchy allows us to correct any egregious presidential electoral errors every four years.
Sarah Palin: I don’t know what it is about the former governor of Alaska that scares the left so badly, but anybody that can cause one media outlet to assign a staggering 11 fact-checkers to dig through the pages of her book must be on to something. Imagine if the media had vetted Obama with as much ferocity. Maybe then we wouldn’t have had to hear media sycophants like MSNBC’s Chris Matthews in schoolgirl fashion telling us how Obama’s words sent a “tingle up my leg” (eeeww). So, if Palin now is sending shivers down Matthews’ spine, I say thank you, Sarah Palin.
Michigan politicians: If I ever have a twinge of homesickness all I have to do is go online and check the news from back home. In the throes of the nation’s worst economy, with staggering unemployment and businesses leaving the state in droves, Michigan State Rep. Alma Wheeler, who is running for governor in 2010, proposes massive tax increases as a way out of that state’s mess. Thank you Rep. Wheeler for reinforcing why coming to Oklahoma was such a wise move. Will the last one out of Michigan please remember to turn out the lights?
Peanut butter decadence: Some people turn to drink, some people smoke while others may gamble. I, however, have found a different outlet to relieve stress. I am talking about Braum’s peanut butter hot fudge sundae. Pure Oklahoma decadence and yet another reason I am happy to call Enid home. My future cardiologist also says thank you.
Wide-open spaces: I still marvel at the vastness of the Plains and how the flat land seems to go on for miles. I am reminded of the words of Karen Hawkins, the mayor of Cherokee, who once said, “You can watch a dog runaway for four days from here.” While probably true, those open spaces also have a certain majesty that can make you feel God’s hand in the creation of this land. Now, when my wife and I travel, the Plains provide a comforting welcome upon our return.
Finally, and in all seriousness, I want to say thank you to the readers of the News & Eagle. These are tough times for everyone, including the newspaper industry, but your feedback tells me this community continues to embrace what we do here and that you care. Thank you, Enid.
Ruthenberg is copy editor at the News & Eagle. He can be reached at daver@enidnews.com.
