Thankful for Friends, Family, and Food

For someone who often weathers criticism for forgetting to stop to smell the roses, Thanksgiving provides a useful pause for reflection. This pause makes me smile because I have so many things for which to be thankful.

I’m thankful that laughter filled my house on Thanksgiving Day. My parents, beautiful wife, children, friends, and some of my best students came together to eat turkey, watch football, and imbibe.

Speaking of students, I am especially thankful for mine. From doctoral students to sophomores, this semester has affirmed my decision to be an educator. Working with young people provides endless rewards, and I love going to work to help them reach their dreams. I’m also especially glad that they’re comfortable enough to share a holiday meal at my house when they’re away from home.

The undergraduate students are fueling a transformation in our curriculum that is unprecedented. They’re talented and driven, and their drive is helping change this place for the better every day. Rather than a routine degree, they’re helping change this into a toy factory for the creatively minded. It’s so awesome going to work.

Amazing Graduate Students

I’m especially thankful for my lab. I’m fond of the space and the equipment, but I am especially appreciative for the people. They love to learn, and that cannot be taught. They are hard working, talented, and bright. Each graduate student (and indeed each professor who occasionally hangs out) brings something unique and powerful to the table. And I look forward to each Wednesday morning to hear their ideas.

I’m thankful for Wes’ inquisitive power, Curtis’ big ideas, Kelli’s all-around awesomeness, Brandon’s grasp of summation notation, and Sungwon’s dedicated work ethic. I’m thankful for Leslie’s thesis idea and that Michelle hangs out in the lab. I’m thankful for all of the other graduate students who come and go, and I’m thankful for Tech’s new Center for Undergraduate Research.

Two Decades Later

Since we just celebrated the 20th anniversary of the day we met – and we met on Thanksgiving – I am especially thankful for my wife, Emily. She truly is my best friend, and she still takes my breath away two decades later. I’m also thankful for Jack Daniels and orange Tic Tacs.

I’m thankful for my education, which continues to this day. I made a lot of poor choices as a young person, and only this great country still provides the opportunity to achieve one’s potential after so many missteps. I’m thankful that my undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral mentors are still a part of my life.

I’m thankful that I have MATLAB and Java software to test out my crazy ideas. I’m more likely to spend a Sunday fitting a model than playing golf, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

A Good Sports Year

I’m thankful for our eccentric pirate football coach. I’m thankful for ridiculous comebacks and going for it on fourth and long. I’m thankful for gaudy passing numbers and an ever improving defense. I’m thankful Bill Snyder is returning my Wildcats to national relevance, and I’m thankful that the Chiefs show signs of life. I’m thankful that the Royals have a Cy Young winner and that they’re still in my hometown. I’m thankful that Pat Knight’s basketball team looks tough this year, and I’m thankful that coach Knight took time out to meet and help recruit my colleague Johnny Sparks to Tech. Next year, I hope I’m thankful for having met his dad.

I’m thankful for the orange, yellow, and white lights that will soon decorate this campus. I’m thankful for the Spanish architecture and the three flags unfurled against a royal blue sky in Memorial Circle. I’m thankful for victory bells and Soapsuds dressed in red. I’m thankful for coffee walks with students and coworkers, and I’m thankful for the ideas that come to life in the beautiful glass enclosure of the second floor of the Student Union Building. I’m thankful for the beautiful strolls through National Ranching Heritage Center.

Thanks for Everything, Dad

I’m thankful that my dad recently turned 81, yet he was here for Thanksgiving, even walking to the park and playing with the kids. I’m thankful that mom was here, too, with enchiladas and sweet potatoes. I’m thankful for Emily’s mashed potatoes, which contain more butter than spud, I think. I’m almost sad that the leftovers are dwindling.

It Made Me Hungry to Write This

I’m thankful for fish tempura tacos at Fuzzy’s and fajitas at Lujan’s. I’m thankful for steak sizzling in butter at Las Brisas and combination fried rice from Thai Pepper. I’m thankful for a plate of nachos from Chimy’s and Taco Tuesday at Rosa’s. I’m thankful for almost anything from Dairy Queen or Sonic, and I’m thankful for road trips with Wes Wise that always include a detour for some of Texas’ best barbecue.

I’m thankful that two of my favorite people will be here next month to receive their doctoral hoods at graduation. I’m thankful Texas Tech has become such an amazing place to work. I’m thankful for all of the kind words people said during the tenure process so far, and I’m thankful to have such strong support from my dean and colleagues. I’m thankful to have the best chair in academics, a man who leads with inspiration but is also a friend.

Land of Enchantment

I’m thankful that New Mexico’s mountains and green chiles are just a few hours west. I’m thankful to have stood at Sandia Crest this year, and I’m thankful I’ll be hiking down Sandia in a few months’ time. I’m thankful to have seen so many undergraduate friends at homecoming this year, and I’m glad to have met their kids.

And as much as I have listed here, there’s so much more for which to be thankful. Those will have to wait until next year. For now, as the movie says, it’s a wonderful life.

Tagged as: family, food, football, thanksgiving