22 Comments

Thank you , Dave, for this meaningful Thanksgiving posting. It gets painfully real when friends like Frank suffer a life threatening heart attack. I will be thinking of Frank and Christy and hope to hear a good health report about Frank soon. Enjoy your evening sittings outdoors by a fire pit with your neighbors. Nighttime in the desert can be magical. These nights, we hear the sound of a cooing owl nearby.

Expand full comment

I agree with you almost totally. I vary from it in only one aspect. This is not a season of “mandatory thanks” since so many do not offer it now. Religions vary, nations vary, and getting thanks from so many is like pulling teeth from a lion: you might get the teeth, but lose everything in the process.

But I give thanks for many things. And one of them is for you, your family, your career and interests, and for your innumerable friends. You all make Tucson a better place to be, and the world a better place to be. Happy Thanksgiving, good luck to Frank and Susie, Vincent the quail patriarch, _______ the Javelina, and the Tucson sun.

Expand full comment

I am Thankful for you and your constantly keeping us sane and hopeful. And Thankful for your recovering good health.

Expand full comment
founding

OK this is my second comment. The comment below about my neighborhood is gentrified. Any errors are Siri’s fault and hold it with me😇

Expand full comment
founding

Thank you, dear David. Here goes: oh, I am thankful that I am reasonably healthy for a person my age I am eternally grateful to my two beautiful stepdaughter’s, Sally and Amy, and their spouses, who help me do the things I can no longer do and take me places that I cannot longer get to. I’m also thankful as heck for my lovely daughter, Paula and her spouse Peter, who do the same things for me. Also, not to forget my son Mark, who is a Mench – someone who early on was doing a lot of the taking care of children. Step granddaughters, Ruthe and Nina, and granddaughters, Elena and Claire. Claire. Daughter-in-law, Sheila, who is the best cook in the world. And grandsons Riley, and his wife, Valeska, and grandson Oliver, who is a student at the University of Arizona, and also a great cook! I love this funky mixed neighborhood, Jen, to provide enough that we have little kids here now. I love being a western woman with some agency and I’m very happy with the choices I have made. I’m grateful for for the handy guys who help me keep this old house from falling apart hard part and I am thankful I live in this small town with generations of friends from different eras of my life. Enough already!

Expand full comment

That is wonderful. Thanks to you, David.

Expand full comment

Some seasons are indeed harder than others but I know I’m thankful for you David. You keep us Tucsonans on our toes and ever so grateful. ❤️

Expand full comment

And we are thankful for you, Mr. Fitzsimmons!

Expand full comment

The family one is born into and the family one creates may not be the same. Sometimes it's an improvement? Maybe its just different.

Expand full comment

Appreciating YOU, David Fitzsimmons!!

Expand full comment

Thank you for sharing. There's so much to be grateful for living in the Tucson desert.

Linda Polito

Expand full comment

All the best to you and yours this grateful day! ☀️🫂🎶💐❤️

Expand full comment

Tissues, please. Hugs and love all around from me (Elaine), BOOTS and TUFFY (feline fur kids).

Expand full comment

I am thankful for a Beautiful Arizona Morning- and for my neighbor to the south who has once again opened my eyes to things we as neighbors both can see. I will rise early most days to hear the same birdsongs, the same chatter that is Magic to the ears.

Grateful always to the man who has been by my side for 17 years, through my medical hurdles and loves me still. My sons the miracles I produced from the sand body that is now broken but not gone.

While so much in this world is raging with hatred and scorn, I send peace to your “brother” and his wife. They are in a holding pattern and I wish for them peace and I hope they receive all they need to carry on.

Thank you dear neighbor for reminding me to look at the sky, listen to the morning music that gives me such pleasure.

Happy Giving Thanks - let’s all do this every day!

Expand full comment

Thank you for another profound essay. Memento mori! Carpe diem!

Expand full comment