From Zoom to COVID vaccines to Biden and (gulp) Trump, a liberal's Thanksgiving thanks

Thanksgiving is the one sacrosanct holiday in my extended, spiritually diverse family – and if there’s one week to focus on the positive instead of all that’s painfully wrong in our world, this is it. 

Don’t worry, there will be politics. (It is my nature.) But we are on a brief break to commemorate the 1621 harvest celebration that cemented a temporary peace between the English Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe. This is a holiday about unity and friendship.

In that spirit, my goal is to give credit where it is due. And some surprising people turn out to deserve it.

Exiting the pandemic

The No. 1 reason to be thankful is, without question, all the ways life is slowly and fitfully returning to some semblance of normal. That starts with the miraculous COVID-19 vaccine and every single scientist, corporation and politician who helped make it possible to develop and distribute. Yes, that includes you, former President Donald Trump, as well as President Joe Biden. It includes every American who has gotten vaccinated, every person who willingly wears a mask when it’s requested or required, every worker who has taken risks to help and serve others, every parent who struggled with school, child care and job chaos, and everyone who helped bring us the new antiviral pills that could make COVID a manageable disease.