Giving thanks...
Many of you by now are in a turkey coma. Many of you are probably basking in the warm glow of family. Some are watching the football. Others are maybe getting ready to go stand outside a store for several hours to snag some holiday shopping deals. But hopefully, all of you have had a wonderful day of Thanksgiving.
Since my family gathers in the early afternoon, this is the time when things have settled down, the children have tired out and everyone is just sitting back relaxing. This is my favorite part of the day because it gives me the chance to reflect and really give thanks for all the wonderful things I've been blessed with in my life.
Like my Mama and her good health. After her heart attack more than a year ago, I have to give thanks for the fact that she turned 70 recently and that she's still around to cook a mean bird. I have to give thanks for my family and the closeness we share with each other.
I also give thanks for some other big and small things in my life... like brussels sprouts and green beans... my goofy, big-hearted smart guy... my silly, sweet dawg... my incredibly thoughtful friends... oyster stuffing... pumpkin pie... a wood fire stove...
This Thanksgiving means so much to me because it's also the last one I will spend at The Sun. After more than 18 years here, as an intern, a reporter, a columnist and a blogger, I am moving on to try my hand at something new. My last consumer column will run this Sunday and tomorrow will be my final day of blogging for the paper.
I am grateful for the opportunity I've had to help some of you resolve your consumer problems and answer some questions, to meet all of you here in the blogosphere and chat, swap tips and laugh about the crazy things we encounter as consumers, and to share some thoughts with you occasionally.
I will miss my co-bloggers Gus, Liz and Eileen, but I also know that you readers are in wonderful hands. i will miss John, Momof2, Janna, Holly, Terry, Jay, Evan, AlisaBS, and all the other commenters who stop in to read and leave a thought or two here. You've all been great, witty and wise.
I hope I've been able to enlighten, educate and maybe even entertain you along the way. Thank you for tuning in. I've had a wicked fun time with you all.
Categories: Holiday shopping, Odds & Ends
Comments
We will miss you, Dan Thanh, and wish you the best of luck. Happy Thanksgiving AND Black Friday. :)
DD: Thanks Mary, our biggest cheerleader even when this little blog was just puttering along.
Posted by: Mary | November 27, 2008 8:53 PM
Thank YOU Dan Thanh for being such a great columnist and all-around extremely helpful person during your time at the paper. You've somehow been able to tackle difficult to understand subjects & concepts and explain them to me in way that's fun to read. You're a very talented writer and you will be greatly missed. Sniff, sniff..
It's so fitting that the first person you thanked in this (almost) last post was your mama. The first story of yours in the paper that really grabbed my attention was a mother's day tribute you wrote to her 3 or 4 years ago. You described how she and your dad fled Vietnam with you and your siblings (after the war, I guess). How fortunate they did this. We would never have had the pleasure of reading your stories and learning something new if they hadn't made that decision.
Don't have any tips to offer today. Just a fond farewell. I wish you the best of luck with your next step in life. Take care.
And don't forget to keep practicing all those great consumer tips you taught us ;-)
DD: Bob, You've been great. Thanks so much for these kind words. When few people ever left comments, you were there for us. I really appreciated that.
Posted by: bob | November 28, 2008 9:31 AM
I have greatly enjoyed reading your blog and column, and wish you the best of luck in your new life!
Keep in touch through the blog and let us know how you are doing!
DD: Susan! I didn't recognize your new moniker. Thanks so much for reading... and thanks for the well wishes. You've been great. While I won't be running the blog anymore, I will definitely be back to comment.
Posted by: Cosmo Girl (used to be Susan WNAJ) | November 28, 2008 10:18 AM
Dan Thanh, I'm 'major league disappointed' that you're leaving The Sun! Dag-gone--you are a major part of whatever brightness still shines from that 'Sun'. But I am also certain that it is a good career decision on your part.
Whatever you're doing I hope that it will include writing, because you are very talented and make for good reading. (I write in my spare time...look to have a magazine piece published soon, and count you as both an inspiration and a guide.)
You have my best wishes for your success, which I am sure is all but certain. If I may ask...are you staying in the area, or re-locating?
You will be more than missed! :( :( :( OK, enough mush--go get 'em, kiddo!
Terry
DD: Terry, you guys are really gonna make me sad if you keep this up. I will still be in the area... and I will still write. Look for me on Twitter and eventually a blog that I'm working to set up.
Posted by: Terry | November 28, 2008 11:10 AM
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Best of luck DD, hope you have great success with your new endeavors. Hey now you can leave snarky commentary on your own blog!
DD: awww Evan... you're making me feel a tear. I am full of snark, so I will be back to comment!
Posted by: Evan | November 28, 2008 12:09 PM