I am thankful that people I consider great friends actually know how to make great bread - sourdough, at that!

I am thankful for God-given talents that have served to inspire art in my life and have given me the language of music with which to communicate with people. Friends, associates, colleagues, parishioners, people I haven't met, such as audiences, party-goers, consumers of advertising for radio and television, films and artistic media,, families at weddings and funerals, dancers, instructors, students of instructors, students of mine, musicians that are peers, band members, choristers, solo instrumentalists and vocalists, neighbors, classmates, supervisors, administrators, bar owners, restauranteurs, parade organizers, entertainment agents and purveyors, hospital patients, state hospital residents, hospice patients, children and older students at school assemblies, birthday celebrants, Anniversary couples, Reunion attendees, and the many others who I have spoken to through my music.

But, most of all, I have sought to return the favor of my talents, by playing for God. While most people just think my playing is wonderful or, at least, reasonably good, when I play I am most thankful for clarity of thought which helps me when playing to render what I play as creative, accurate, inspiring to others, worth listening to, a method of deepening and enhancing the experience for others, as when I play, I pray that I give my absolute best always because God, from whom I have received such a blessing, is, indeed, listening.

I am thankful that this experience in my life guides me in many loving relationships to reveal an authenticity for how I see God's many gifts in others and to respect that they have been so blessed.

Thank you, Jisun, for this excellent opportunity provided by you and this project to reflect, collect and share my thoughts about what's really important in my life.