I’ve been chuckling for the past several days at friends, colleagues, acquaintances, folks I’ve met for the first time.

They’ve said more or less the same thing about Thanksgiving. They’ve been telling me how much they’re going to eat. It’s as if in order to give thanks for the bounty they enjoy, they have to partake in it in copious amounts.

We’re going to pass on all of that this year.

My wife, our older son and I are going to spend a quiet Thanksgiving day. We’re going to have lunch with my mother-in-law at the retirement community where she lives. We’re going to let someone else do the cooking. We’ll eat some turkey, perhaps have a little stuffing, some spuds, cranberry sauce, some veggies and we’ll top it off with a slice of pie.

It’s going to be, in effect, just another day for us.

I’ll spend some private time, though, giving plenty of thanks for all I have. It’s plenty.

I have a wonderful family. My wife is my treasure, as are our sons. One of our sons has been blessed with a beautiful family of his own. We are grateful for them and all they have brought into our family.

You’ve heard already about our new granddaughter; my pride in her is self-evident.

I’m grateful for my extended family, my sisters and their loved ones. I have several aunts, uncles, many cousins … and they all have family members who make me proud and for whom I am grateful.

I give thanks today for living in the greatest country on the planet. I cherish that the Almighty allowed me to be born here.

I was raised by two loving parents who’ve been gone for three decades. I still miss them.

I give thanks for the great professional life I was able to lead and for being able to meet the most amazing people, visit the most incredible places, to travel throughout the United States and abroad and to do some amazing things. I’ve covered great stories, been able to express myself and chronicled my world as I saw it. It doesn’t get any better than that.

For all that I give thanks. I’ll do so throughout the day without stuffing myself.

Life is good. I’m grateful for that, too.