On SPC's First Thanksgiving, Here's Why We're Grateful
Take a few moments and remember how lucky we are ...
As you can sorta see from this picture of my son and my late Dad from a few years back, Thanksgiving has always been a big deal in the Patalon household.
When I was growing up near Pittsburgh, or later after we’d moved to Baltimore, my parents, two sisters and I sometimes spent Thanksgiving at the houses of family friends. But my Dad and Mom usually “played host” at our house — inviting relatives, neighbors, friends … or so-called “orphans” (folks who would otherwise have to spend the day alone) to join us for turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce … the works.
My folks were always like that. They showed us how lucky we were. They taught us to be grateful and giving. And all of that made me appreciate the true “meaning” of the Thanksgiving holiday — that it was much, much more than the “football, stuffing, turkey and pie” that are often the “headliners” of this special day.
What’s interesting is that — as an adult, and then as a guy with a family of my own — my feelings about Thanksgiving actually deepened.
When I took a job as a business reporter in Rochester, N.Y. — the opportunity that really made my career — I was an eight-hour car trip away from my folks’ home just north of Baltimore. Didn’t matter — I made it a point to get home for Thanksgiving (as they say) “by hook or by crook.”
And I mean every single year …
For a key part of my eight years (and nine winters) in Upstate New York, I was covering the attempted corporate turnaround of Eastman Kodak Co. KODK 0.00%↑ — a U.S. icon and at the time one of the top business stories in America.
But when “Thanksgiving Wednesday” arrived, I’d have my truck packed and ready to leave after deadline — except I almost never failed to have a story break sometime that day … meaning I wouldn't hit the road until late at night … or well into the wee early morning hours.
One year, I remember, I had to cover a breaking story about a corporate espionage case involving Kodak, a former employee, a company “sting operation” — and a phony China buyer.
It was a GREAT breaking news story … the kind a reporter like me lives to report and write … and one that spurred added protections for so-called “trade secrets.” A major bonus: I got to team up with investigative reporter Steve Orr, a friend and fellow Gannett journalist who was a blast to work with … and who was respected as one of the best in the business. We covered the story itself that Wednesday — then had to turn around and write a bigger analysis piece for Sunday’s Page 1.
It’s been nearly 30 years since that particular “Thanksgiving Wednesday,” but I still remember leaving Rochester at about 2 a.m., Thanksgiving morning, knowing I had miles to go before I (could) sleep.
I still remember the grandeur of the sunrise as I drove past Harrisburg and the wonder I experienced as I watched a new day dawn over the Susquehanna River as I motored toward home.
I still remember how shot I felt when I braked to a stop in front of our house nearly two hours later.
And I especially still remember the laser beam of warmth I felt somewhere deep within when my Dad looked up from the stove (he was already cooking), smiled and said: “Happy Thanksgiving, Willy.”
After a few hours sleep, the dinner tasted wonderful — especially my Dad’s “famous stuffing.” I looked around the dinner table as my family ate and chatted … and remember thinking: “Bill, you are truly a very lucky guy.”
We lost my Dad a few years ago. But I’m thankful for the special bond we had — and that I always told him how great a father I knew him to be.
And I’m now a husband and Dad myself; in fact, my son Joey turns 18 this week. But we’ll still be there in the house I grew up in to share Thanksgiving with my Mom and my sister Kathy.
My wife RK and I taught Joey the importance of Thanksgiving from the very get-go.
He still gets a kick out of the cutout turkey I made him (as a “sorta/kinda” joke) when he was five or six..
And he understands the importance of being thankful for what we have.
As I continue to be …
In addition to my wife, son, sisters, extended family and longtime friends like Harry and Keith and Dave and Sparky and Colleen and Josh and Stephanie, I’m thankful for my “new” family … the fun-and-growing one here on Substack — here at Stock Picker’s Corner (SPC).
Many of these are friends and frequent collaborators I’ve known for years:
Like SPC Co-Founder Jack Delaney.
- of .
- of The Net Worth Club.
Peter Krauth of Silver Stock Investor.
And our resident Apple Inc. AAPL 0.00%↑ and Bitcoin (BTC) expert
, who I worked with at The Baltimore Sun, hired at Money Morning and now get to draw wisdom from here.
Then there are some great people who I’ve met and collaborated with just this year thanks to Substack:
- from the Old Economy.
The team over at
.- , author of Investing in U.S. Financial History.
And
… as well as others … who’ve helped us here in SPC’s first year.
I’m truly thankful for
and her warm welcome earlier this year. Her efforts inspire us all … I don’t know how she manages to do everything she does …Besides Linda, we should all be thankful for the stewardship of
and in building something special.As Hamish wrote a bit ago:
“This is a new kind of media ecosystem. It’s like traditional media with community, or social media with property rights. It is a world of worlds; communities built around ideas and cultural leaders, where anyone gets a shot regardless of pedigree. It’s a system designed specifically to help writers and creators succeed, and for everyone to find ideas and ideals to fall in love with.”
What he calls an “ecosystem,” I’ll just refer to as a home.
I’m thankful to call Substack my “writing home.”
Best of all, I’m thankful for you guys … our readers … who are the Substack “family members” that visit to break bread with us every day. You inspire us to do our best work today … tomorrow … and for years to come.
At the end of the day, I’m just a guy who loves his family … as “extended” as it seems.
Happy Thanksgiving to each and every one of you.
And … thank you.
We’ll see you back here next week.
An incredibly beautiful and heartwarming story! Wishing everyone a happyThanksgiving!
Great story!!! Happy Thanksgiving WP III