Show Family, circa 2021

Nov. 27. By Jon Show. For many years my favorite way to start the Thanksgiving Day festivities was to drive up to my parents’ place in Kings Point, grab the Charlotte Observer, pour myself a Bloody Mary, sit on their back porch overlooking the lake, and read the late Ron Green Sr.’s annual column about being thankful.

As Ron wrote one year: “There is no better place, to me, to sit in peace on Thanksgiving morning than on a porch under a Carolina blue sky.”

I could never command prose like Senior, nor do I have the wisdom of his years, but that doesn’t mean I can’t share some of the things I’m grateful for today and, perhaps, start a new Thanksgiving tradition at Cornelius Today.

This year I’m thankful for:

• Michelle Fogt. She’s been Michelle Show for 20 years now — and the Mother of Dragons for the eight years I’ve been writing Modern Dad. I’m eternally thankful to spend my days with the love of my life.

• My parents. I might be down to one, but I was lucky to have the one I got as my dad, and I’m lucky to have the one I still have as my mom.

• My morning and nightly hugs from the Blonde Bomber. I keep waiting for the teenage years to rob me of them, but it hasn’t happened yet. I know it’s coming soon, and that’s one of the reasons I’m thankful.

• Getting to sit next to Future Man — after years of watching him practice in the backyard or randomly driving by him, alone, at a field — as he accepted an offer to play sports in college. A proud dad moment.

• The people I met this year — like Manny Rosado, Zoey Boukedes, Ashley Nydish, and countless more — who live to serve others. The world may change but taking care of those less fortunate will never go out of style.

• Dave and Tracy Yochum for entrusting us to carry on with Cornelius Today and helping me learn the ropes.

• The high school athletes, musicians, artists, club members, and more. I love any kid who geeks out on anything, and I appreciate the opportunity to share your stories with others.

• Lightning Show. Best dog a guy could ask for.

• Our elected officials. Get to know each of them and you’ll quickly learn they care a great deal about the future of our town — and they work pretty darn hard for it.

• A late-autumn sunset when you drive west on Westmoreland, the trees open up, and the sky is on fire. Never gets old.

• Winters on the lake. I’ll take a cool, sunny, peaceful January day on Lake Norman over any day in the summer.

• The dedo de queso at Caffeto. The chicken sliders at Torrence & Knox. The lunch special at Brooklyn South. The carnitas on Saturdays at La Tienda Maria. Some of my favorite meals in town.

• The exuberance of Beau Maye and Derek Butler, the new basketball coach and athletic director at Hough High School, respectively. Their enthusiasm is infectious.

• The folks at Cornelius Today. It takes a lot of work and passion to bring you a monthly print issue and a daily newsletter, and I’m thankful every day for our crew.

• Our advertisers. Thank you for trusting and supporting us. There is no Cornelius Today without you.

• Finally, our readers — who I saved for the end because I always save the best for last. We’re so appreciative that you take the time to read our work. Your love of Cornelius is why we go to work each morning.

From all of us at Cornelius Today, we hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.