Mayor on Duty

My mother thought Thanksgiving was the most important holiday of the year, and she believed this holiday allowed families to gather and pay tribute to the Divine Creator who gave us all the blessings in life.
She would always tell her children that they could host all the other holidays, but just give her Thanksgiving.
At our house once again this year, Sallie and I will honor that tradition with a family gathering of almost 30 family members. Like all the families and friends in Highlands and across the country, we will take time to give thanks for all that we have. We all embrace that giving thanks begins with a simple appreciation of life itself. For me, it is mindful gratitude for the ability to think, feel and love one another because we have that divine spark within us; that we also have the gift, the wonder, the miracle of life and consciousness. What a tremendous blessing for all.
In recent Thanksgivings this happens to me every time. I have the honor of saying a few words to our family gathering before the blessing and dinner. It’s an honor for me in that my late father-in-law, Buck Trott, use to do the same.
I look out over the assembled family and see the very old, like me, the folks in the middle, and the very young. Before my little homily, I tell myself to get it together and hold my composure.
“You’re the mayor, you have to speak in public, even under some pressure, all the time. You can sail through this, don’t embarrass yourself in front of your family.” But I do it every time, in the middle of what I’m saying I will begin to tear up, choke on my words, as I try to communicate how we as a family should take time to be thankful for the love we have for one another. I suspect I’m not the only person in our wonderful community that will experience a similar situation. I hope everyone will have a joyous and thankful holiday.
As a town we have a lot to be thankful for also.  At last week’s board meeting the auditors reported we have a strong financial position, which is also reflective of a strong local economy.
We are making very good progress in the building of a new fire station that will help protect the township for decades to come. Our broadband network should be completed later in the coming year. We saw the sale of the hospital to HCA this year with a condition that it will remain open and operational for at least a decade. There is new leadership at the Highlands Chamber of Commerce that will bring new initiatives and changes. The town will have changes in December as a new town board is sworn in.
So, I am thankful for what has been accomplished in the community. Nevertheless, improvement can always be made and challenges lie ahead.
See you at Founders Park, Saturday at 6 p.m. for the town tree lighting.