It’s an annual tradition here on Tom’s Workbench. Since I normally post on Wednesdays and Thanksgiving is always on a Thursday, it’s easy and very timely for me to post a list of all of the things I am thankful for.  I’m not making an exception for this year!

So, without any further ado, here’s the 2013 edition of what I am thankful for.

I am thankful for my wife Rhonda and the 20 years of marriage we celebrated this year. Standing at the altar back in 1993, I could have never thought my life would be the way it is today, and I owe much of that to you, Rhonda.

I am thankful for my two wacky sons. They got their mom’s looks, but they got their dad’s zany sense of humor. Fortunately, they are both doing well in school, and every day with those two mooks is an adventure.

I am thankful that my trained shop monkey Iggy hasn’t thrown me out into the street and changed the locks to the shop.

I am thankful that I was able to attend the Woodworking Show in Tampa back in March and the Woodworking in America show in Covington, Kentucky this past October. The folks I meet at these events are just so darned talented and welcoming. It’s great to be a woodworker.

I am thankful for my friends and family. It still gives me the biggest thrill to hear from someone I know and care about, “I read that on your blog.”  Thanks for being my support throughout the years and for tolerating the 800th trip through the shop to see what’s on the bench.

I am thankful that I (finally) built the banquette project this year, after a few years of – ahem – dragging my feet. Tomorrow at dinner, we will have that bench filled to capacity with hungry relatives ready to dig in to the feast.

I am thankful that we had an amazingly successful Get Woodworking Week this past February. If we can inspire new woodworkers to get into the shop, then our job is done!  Oh, mark your calendars for the week of February 2 – 8 for the 2014 edition of Get Woodworking Week.

I am also thankful that there has been tremendous support for the Last Minute Elf project, which is coming up next week!  Remember to get those project ideas in to me soon, so you can be entered for some fabulous prizes.

I am thankful that my first year as Vice President of the St. Petersburg Woodrafters Guild went well, and I look forward to another successful year.

I am thankful that Chris Schwarz inspired me to build the Dutch Tool Chest to provide a safe and convenient place to store my hand tools and keep them organized. In 2014, I hope to become a whole lot more acquainted with them.

I am thankful that I was able to see the smiles of my two nieces – Lauren and Katie – after they got their presents this year, and I’m glad that my friend’s daughter Sydney was happy with her medal rack. There is indeed nothing like the sight of a happy customer.

I am thankful for my sponsors – Bell Forest Products, Infinity Cutting Tools, Bora Tools, Tormek and Laguna. Some days, I really do have to pinch myself – I can’t believe that you guys are still supporting me so readily!

I am thankful that our hurricane season this year was quiet, with minimal impact for my friends and relatives here in the United States. After Irene in 2011 and Sandy in 2012, it’s good to get a year off from worry…

I am thankful that I was able to sleep on my response to a post made by Paul Sellers back in March. I could have just thrown out an angry response to his post about the lack of younger and female woodworkers at the Tampa Woodworking Show last March, but I hope my more measured response helped folks become more interested in working together to grow the craft

I am thankful that the brain trust at the Modern Woodworkers Association hasn’t wised up yet and given me the boot!  OK, just kidding.. but, I really do want to thank Dyami Plotke and Chris Adkins for tolerating my hijinx…You guys rock.

I am thankful that there are so many talented woodworkers out there taking the leap and contributing to the online woodworking experience. Each blog post, each video, each podcast is an opportunity for someone to showcase their skill and enthusiasm for the craft we love so dearly. I cannot tell you how great it is to be in the company of people I admire and want to emulate. Thank you for what you do for the community.

And, most importantly, I want to take a moment to thank each of you for reading Tom’s Workbench. Who would have known six years ago that this little shop distraction would have become what it is today – a blog where people actually read the content?  Thanks for all of your support.

Tomorrow, as I lift my glass to make the toast, I want you to know I’ll be making a special one for each of you…