This may sound redundant, but I give thanks for Thanksgiving itself. The holiday brings my two older kids home from college, offers three pro football games on TV, provides a four-day weekend, and calls for a high five to everyone in the community who tries to make a difference.

Please indulge me now in my giving of thanks.

First, thank you to Rollie Atkinson and everyone at Sonoma West for publishing the best local paper in the country, and for including my column in the mix. I've enjoyed a writer's dream all these years - the privilege of expressing myself freely (and sometimes foolishly), and the pleasure of seeing my unedited words in print.

And to everyone who has ever ventured a kind remark or critical comment about my work, thank you. It soothes my insecurity to know there are readers out there.

A warm thank you to all my friends and neighbors on Florence Avenue. I can't name everyone, but will mention a few, starting with Heather and Rich Gibson next door, who are always there to help. Merci to Patrick Amiot, the incomparable metal sculptor who has made Florence Avenue the folk art equivalent of Florence, Italy, and whose kind and compassionate family provided a second home this summer for our French exchange student, Anne-Laure Simon.

An overdue thank you goes to Beagle Brodsky, our neighbor across the street, for his unassuming generosity - whether it's been service as a soccer referee or club president, donor of Willy Bird products for youth sports fund-raisers, or perennial host of a haunted house on Halloween, Beagle has long contributed to the community in numerous ways.

Thank you to all the hard-working and often unappreciated teachers in our local schools. My three kids grew up at Park Side, Pine Crest, and Brook Haven, where they were blessed with wonderful teachers, including Ron Anderson, Julie Aiello, Paula Martens, Greg Corby, the late (and great) Greg Lee, Sue Lamb, Richard Kolodin, Dennis “Mr. C” Christiansen, Pat Corcoran, Elaine Covell, Anne McEvoy, Bruce Robb, Carole Simkins, Liz Knisely, Starr Hergenrather, and Neil VanNatta, among others.

Thank you to David Wheeler, Superintendent of the Sebastopol Union School District. David brought the district together in a contentious time, and made it look easy. As a School Board member these past two years, I have come to realize how complex and demanding the administration of public education can be, and how fortunate we are to have the leadership and problem-solving skills of David Wheeler.

Special thanks go to Mike Butler, who retired this year after many years of dedicated service as a teacher and principal at Park Side, to Pine Crest principal Mike McBride, who continues to uphold the standard, and to Jim Pascoe, who set the original standard at Brook Haven.

Thank you to all the players and parents from the under-16 Wesco boys recreational soccer team coached this season by my dear friend Bob Rubin and me. In 15 years of coaching youth soccer I've never had a more enjoyable time, or worked with a nicer group of athletes and supportive families. We narrowly lost the Windsor Cup Tournament final last weekend on overtime penalty kicks, but I love these kids and they will always be champions in my heart.
Thank you to the amazing Oscar Sanchez (simply the best 14-year old soccer player I've ever seen); Danny Sanchez (a superb goalkeeper, and only 13); Antonio Paramo (a brilliant, unbeatable, and unselfish playmaker); Sean Sante (the swift sweeper nonpareil); solid starting fullbacks Collin O'Connor and Alec Floriani, backed capably by Daniel Doughty; steady Pat Stafford and Kirk Tolfa at stopper; Willie Wilson (my favorite player), Roman (goal-scoring) Gomez, and the relentless Reed Hamilton controlling mid-field, well supported by Pat Laznich, Ricky Spillane, and Joel Munoz; and the dangerous Jordan Boone, slick Joe Sybrian, and no-quit Chris Sparrow (the soul of our team) attacking at forward.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.