I'm expecting a quiet Thanksgiving. My very large family has scattered all over the country and I'm left at home with my vegetarian husband and other vegetarian friends. I went out and bought a turkey anyway and I'll fix it like my mother did and give thanks for all those years when my three brothers, two sisters and myself gathered with our spouses and little kids around the family table in Fort Wayne, IN, and eat it all myself with Jacki.
Life brings so many changes and this year's holidays represent big changes. But you've got to know that I have many things to be grateful for.
I'm grateful for this community.
How much fun it is to get up in the morning and to meet you here, stay in touch with old friends and make new ones. I know you like it here also. I am so grateful to meet you and appreciate your participation here. I am grateful for the opportunity that has enabled me to continue being part of the art fair business.
I'm grateful for the Internet.
Where would I be without it? Yes, greeting at Home Depot and learning the intricacies of the paint mixing machine. Thanks for providing this unbelievable environment in which we can create value, build audiences, make friends out of strangers, laugh at funny pictures of cats, and construct things that have never been imagined before. What a rush.
I'm grateful to you
Thank you so much for reading, for commenting, for sharing the posts, for your interest and support and intelligent criticism, for keeping us honest, for giving a damn about doing great work. You are magnificent, and everyone here is supremely grateful for your time and attention.
I'm grateful for the team that helps me keep my websites running
Jacki Bilsborrow who keeps ArtFairCalendar.com updated and also drops in here at AFI regularly to visit you; Sabrina Aughenbaugh who has become my right hand at developing our email newsletters; Heather Hansen (great tech skills) who is running ArtShowReviews.com. Grateful to Larry Berman for all his vetting of members coming to this site and who delivers detailed tech advice to all who ask.
I am grateful to particular individuals who have been valued partners at AFI
Nels Johnson, Barry Bernstein, Jim Parker, Geoff Coe, Geri Wegner, Ruth Finkenbiner, Munks, Holly Olinger, Carla Fox, Linda Shields, Annette Piper, Linda Anderson, Caroline Kwas, Karole Bowlds, Chris Hoyt, Alison Thomas, Kathy Oda, Michelle Wermuth, Diane Wright and so many others. Please nudge me to include you!
I'm grateful to all the art fair organizers
I never thought these websites would turn into a business but because of your support I've been able to earn a living while bringing artists and art news together for your shows. I thank those of you who have participated on this site including Cindy Lerick, Sara Shambarger, Jon Witz, Richard Sullivan, Stephen King.
I'm grateful to my advertisers
Michael DiGiovanni, Patrick Sullivan, Mark Rogers, Chris Ritke, Andrew Wollman, Bevin McGuire, Luke Block for their reliable support
I'm grateful for my family
Brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren who make my life worth living and to my husband, Norm Darwish, who totally understands what I am doing and says, "go do it!" Thanks to Scott who built my sites and said, "you can do it, Mom."
I'm grateful to my aerobics class
You tolerate me as the oldest person in the group and inspire me to keep going.
How about you?
I want to know what you're grateful for. Whether you're celebrating Thanksgiving or not, it feels great to take a minute and think about what's made your life better this year. Let us know about it in a comment below.
