For some, Thanksgiving 2008 brings more trepidation than thanks, more fear than hope, more dread than optimism.

A slumping economy, massive layoffs, rising foreclosures, seemingly-endless wars on two fronts and a daily news diet that features mostly bad news should send even the most idealistic into the depths of depression.

But in shouldn't. Americans are a resilient bunch. We find hope when faced with adversity, we keep the faith when others lose hope.

Reports Todd Lewan of The Associated Press:

A Thanksgiving ago, many of us were fretting over delays at the airport, our holiday season shopping lists, even things like whether to get another Botox injection or a new set of wheels.

Now we worry about keeping gas in the car. Or just keeping the car.

This Thanksgiving, a slumping economy is making many Americans more fearful than thankful.

And yet, as grim as these days are, millions of Americans are still preparing to turn a meal into a celebration — to find joy in the midst of growing hardship.

You could see glimmers of it everywhere — from the suburbs north of Los Angeles, where families who once lived in new homes lined up for free food, to Denver, where dozens down on their luck answered an Internet ad for Thanksgiving dinner, to a church on Wall Street, where a clergyman repeatedly struggled to answer the question of the moment: Will the hard times ever end?

With me still layed low by pneumonia and Amy hobbled by the flu, we will spend Thanksgiving away from family and friends. We can't risk my mother getting sick from any of the various germs that are having a party in our bodies.

But as we fight fever and sniffles and respiratory problems, we still find many reasons to be thankful on this holiday. Despite these temporary assaults on our wellness, we both remain relatively healthy as we head into our golden years. Despite a retirement nest egg destroyed by the stock market and falling real estate prices we still have food on the table and money enough to pay our bills.

I'm still able to take my cameras out to sporting events and other activities and record them for the local newspaper and this web site. I'm still able to write and report on national events on the web and local activities for the paper. These are all things I love to do. Anyone who is still doing what he or she loves for so long is truly lucky and should be thankful.

Amy finds fulfillment in volunteer activity at Angels in the Attic. I'm thankful that I'm still sober after so many years and can continue to successfully battle the beast of alcoholism one day at a time.

We're thankful for the many new friends we've made since coming to Floyd and the many old friends who stay in touch.

To all of you, our best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving. We live in interesting times. Let's make the most of it.