It has been a bit of a rough patch for your loyal writer and servant, Dan P and most of it far overshadows the struggles of a baseball team. I won’t try your patience on the details, but the bottom line is that I have been doing a lot of praying for family and friends with their struggles lately. All of that is far more important than a group of millionaires or near millionaires missing the playoffs by a game after the 2025 season.
The bottom line is that beyond all the problems in my life and my fantasy life, there is still so much to be thankful and here a couple days past THE day of thankfulness I would like to share my list with you.
I am so, very thankful for:
- Waking up each morning and finding challenges to spur me on every day
- Living in the greatest country the world has ever known
- The blessings God has given me….such as:
- My family
- My friends
- My friends who love the Astros as much as I do
- Adequate food
- Decent health
- A place to live
- And so much more
- 2017 and 2022
- Jose Altuve launching those playoff home runs
- Charlie Morton clinching a championship
- Marwin Gonzalez saving our cheese with a homer
- Cristian Javier and 6 innings of no-hit ball in the biggest game of 2022
- The big arm of Hunter Brown
- Getting to watch and love Justin Verlander, George Springer, Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker, Yuli Gurriel and all those who have come and gone
- Being able to survive the hell of 2011-2014 and to enjoy the wonders afterwards.
So, what about you – what are you thankful for today?
ALL THINGS ASTROS 
7 responses to “An Astros’ fan and writer is still thankful”
That sure is a reflective post Dan.
For me at 70, so suddenly I might add, I appreciate of the fact that I can take a half mile swim in the warm Caribbean Sea 365 days a year. Yes, after a tough two years with eye issues and other ultimately unfounded neurological concerns, I’m healthy. I’m so grateful.
Obviously I do not live in the country of my birth at this point, but America was a wonderful place to grow up and I pray for our United States and I pray for world peace too. I’d like to leave our planet in better shape for our kids than how we inherited it.
On Thursday I missed the family Thanksgiving dinner, this year for 21 brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, grandkids and a couple of regular adopted free loaders that show up every year. But I got a whole lot of photos via WhatsApp!
And I’m working today too, even as I watch Ohio State playing Michigan. Gosh, it looks cold up there! I don’t know if Michigan magic is going to happen again today.
I’ve also got a roof over my head and fish from the sea and healthcare and many friends from all different walks of life. When you live on an island in the middle of the ocean, everyone seems to show up!
Maybe it’s a bit frivolous, but I really appreciate of all the years of following our common cause with all of you. I really appreciate all of the conversation, and when I don’t hear from one of you for a while, I think about what might be going on in your lives. The Astros have been a wonderful diversion, sometimes when some other things have not been quite so wonderful.
Dan, I’m going to add your rough patch to my prayer list.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much daveb – prayers are always appreciated.
LikeLike
Ryan Helsley got 2 years at 14 million per, with an opt out. Imagine what someone will pay Bryan Abreu next year?
LikeLike
Hey folks – anybody other than daveb are thankful for anything??
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes sir, I am. Firstly, I am thankful to have the Lord in my life. He has saved me both spiritually and physically more times than I can count. Even more, times that I have no recollection of it.
Next, my wife and family. They have grown to be mountains of strength for me, especially as I am now in my eighth decade of life. They bring me great pleasure.
Then, my job. I now work part-time but the job pays the bills quite well. Between it and my pensions, I have a comfortable home and lifestyle for my wife and myself.
I am thankful for the great friends that I have. Solid ones at work, my neighbors, my cardiologist , who IS a friend and one that talks politics when we visit, and, of course, those of you on here.
I am thankful that the University of Houston football and basketball teams are doing well.
I am thankful to be able to comment here, among like-minded friends, on my Houston Astros.
Peace and good tidings to all here.
LikeLike
Lots to be thankful for theses days. Yet, we should remember to be thankful each and every day, not just at Thanksgiving.
On the latest Astros news, I’m seeing all kind of reports that the Astros are looking to trade Jake Meyers for possible pitching, either a starter, bull pen, or high end prospects. If this happens I would hope that DB gets the better end of the deal and doesn’t get hosed. Also saw an article that the Astros are looking at Ranger Suarez to compliment Hunter Brown as a front line starter. What we also need is HITTING but that’s a job for our new hitting coaches.
LikeLike
I’m thankful for a place to come and share baseball wisdom (or just flat out rant) with true fans. We been at this for a long time boys and girls. I’ve been reading Chip since I first found him on the Chron website in 2007 – got me through multiple deployments to Iraq. No matter what country I found myself in, what state I got moved to by the Army, or even as my moving spirit continues after I “retired” from the Army – I can always sit down at a computer, type chipalatta.com, and keep up with my hometown 9 – and get some caring, thoughtful fans to exchange ideas with. You all have been a meaningful part of my life.
So many fans have come and gone in these pages. Hopefully many of them still read even if we don’t hear from them as often. But everyone one of them were valuable to this kid. Thanks team!
As for baseball banter, it seems the market price on pitching is getting set. Cease has never been a 210M pitcher, yet here we are. And Cody Ponce just got 30M, without ever having an ounce of major league success. If Brown can pull off a Christmas miracle and actually find a return on Meyers and Sanchez that improves the pitching staff, that would be a major win. Like in most shopping places this Christmas season, all the prices are up, and the quality of the bargain bin is down. Good time to be the agent of a mid-tier pitcher. Hopefully Weiss can provide some help for the 5th spot in the rotation. I’ve got no confidence in Nate Pearson, but stranger things have happened.
LikeLike