Reason to give thanks: Getting old lives back

Plenty of Americans have voiced plenty of complaints recently, over plenty of subjects. But then we’ve all endured a rough couple of years, with a global pandemic that claimed millions of lives, including several hundred here in the Rio GrandeValley. Add to that continued political unrest that incited worries among many people every time they went out in public.

It’s all created a general dour mood that has manifested itself in less tolerance for perceived wrongs or just simple differences of opinion, and more extreme reactions when something goes wrong or some desire isn’t realized, no matter how minor it might be.

We trust, however, that most people see better days ahead, even without the traditional Thanksgiving invitation to count our many blessings.

It’s worth noting that this holiday began in the emergence from hard times, both in the Pilgrims’ celebration of a successful harvest after a harsh winter and in President Abraham Lincoln’s reminder that even in the throes of a brutal civil war, we had many reasons to be thankful.

After enduring the difficulties of the past few years, many of us would be thankful just to have our old lives back.

Fortunately, it looks like that wish is being realized.

The COVID-19 pandemic has abated to the point that Valley officials recently downgraded emergency protocols, and most public places no longer ask people to wear facemasks. Cases and even deaths continue to be reported, but not at crisis levels and continued vaccination is still strongly encouraged. H-E-B even renewed its Feast of Sharing after stopping the annual public feast in the interest of public safety.

The chaos that sullied recent elections also ebbed. Campaigns were as contentious as ever, but the voting process generally ran smoothly and few unreasonable challenges to the results were seen.

Even the economy appears to be stabilizing. Gas prices are well below $3 this week, which analysts say is sparking a rise in pre-holiday consumer confidence. Products are returning to store shelves and while inflation remains high, it is somewhat mitigated by a 4% rise in wages in the most recent reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Even SpaceX rocket launches from the Boca Chica Beach facility, which have been held up for several months due to delays in the federal permitting process, are set to resume in a matter of weeks, including the first orbital flight from the Valley.

Especially auspicious is the latest FBI uniform crime report that shows crime rates in the Valley, already among the lowest in the country, continue to fall.

Overall, it suggests a general return to normalcy that should bring some comfort to most Valley residents.

As families gather this Thanksgiving, many of us have more blessings to count, even if they are a simple return to simpler days with fewer troubles and fears. As always, we at AIM Media Texas are most grateful to you, dear readers, whose daily lives and achievements fill our pages every day and whose patronage gives our work purpose.

We wish everyone a blessed holiday, and look forward to seeing many more reasons to give thanks in the days ahead.