As we approach Thanksgiving Day, let us count the ways we are thankful to live in New York, the greatest city in the world:
We are thankful that we can find any type of food we desire within a five-minute walk of our homes.
We are thankful that most of us don’t need cars.
We are thankful that we don’t care about a candidate’s color, religion or ethnicity — or those of his spouse or family — when we cast our votes, only that we think he or she can do the best job for us.
We are thankful that we live in a city where you are respected, not mocked, for being literate and believing in science.
We are thankful that the Staten Island Ferry is still free — both ways.
We are thankful for New York organizations that provide for the city’s poor and elderly this holiday season, such as Citimeals-on-Wheels and God’s Love We Deliver.
We are thankful that, according to the latest FBI statistics, we have the lowest crime rate of any major city in the United States.
We are thankful that the Rockaways, Staten Island and the shores of Brooklyn (and yes, New Jersey) are coming back strong from the devastation of Superstorm Sandy.
We are thankful that all of our subway lines run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year — the only subway system in the United States to offer this.
We are thankful that no matter how esoteric our interest, we can find other people who share it, from bird-watching to boccie to make-your-own-craft-beer workshops to the NYC Ukulele Meetup Group.
We are thankful for Broadway, the Bronx Zoo, Coney Island and the Cloisters.
We are thankful to have the world’s greatest museums, theater and music venues just a subway ride (and for some a short stroll) from our homes.
We are thankful for having had the pleasure of watching the great, classy Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter for about two decades.
We are thankful that, as opposed to other gift-giving, wallet-draining, false-cheer holidays, all that’s required of us is to eat a humongous meal and pass out.
We are thankful that Mayor Michael Bloomberg has blown his last chance to unleash the gravy-and-stuffing police on us.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Playwright Mike Vogel blogs at newyorkgritty.net.
