Plenty to be thankful for this week

TONY DODERO

Thursday is Thanksgiving and it’s time to reflect on just how much

all of us have to be thankful for.

I have lots, both professionally and personally, to be thankful

for this year but I just learned this week that I have one more

extremely big thanks to give.

A couple of columns ago, I wrote about former Daily Pilot reporter

Robert “Bob” Barker, who had just learned that he had developed a

brain tumor and was fighting for his life.

Well, I am happy to report this week that the most recent news I

got from Bob is incredible. The radiation therapy he has undergone

for the last month or so seems to have done the trick.

“Good news,” Bob told me in a phone call this week. “They looked

into my brain and found nothing there.”

Despite facing the challenge of a brain tumor, Bob never lost his

spirits or sense of humor.

To be clear, Bob said that his doctor did a brain scan after the

radiation treatment and found no cancer cells in his brain. The

doctor, he said, is calling it nothing short of a miracle.

Maybe so, because I sure know there were a lot of people asking

the big guy upstairs to intervene in this one. My mom has always told

me not to underestimate the power of prayer.

Whatever the reason, I’m just happy for Bob and his family and

hope the news continues to be good.

I’m thankful for that.

As ever, I am thankful for the Daily Pilot readers. They never

cease to amaze me each and every year at how much they care about

their community and fellow residents.

One example was the outpouring of grief and mourning that all the

readers displayed after the death of Marine Lance Cpl. Jose Garibay

of Costa Mesa, the first Orange County casualty in the Iraq War.

I am thankful to know city managers Homer Bludau and Allan Roeder

of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, respectively. Two fine guys who have

the community interest at heart.

I’m thankful for school superintendent Rob Barbot, police chiefs

John Hensley and Bob McDonell, fire chiefs Jim Ellis and Tim Riley

and that Dave Snowden is having a good retirement.

I’m thankful for mayors Steve Bromberg and Gary Monahan, and the

fish and chips that Gary serves up at his Irish pub and, of course,

school board President Martha Fluor. I’m thankful for Coast Community

College District Chancellor William Vega, and the college board

President Paul Berger, and all of the elected officials, who

basically volunteer their days and nights for a thankless job.

I’m thankful for OCC President Gene Farrell, UCI Chancellor Ralph

Cicerone and Vanguard University President Murray Dempster

I’m thankful for Bill’s Burgers on Bristol (though I really need

to quit eating those cheeseburger specials), Chipotle, Wahoo’s, El

Chinaco, Taco Mesa, Togo’s and Panda Express.

I’m thankful that I can still stand up on my surfboard and try to

work off those fast lunches.

I’m thankful for Newport Harbor, Costa Mesa, Corona del Mar and

Estancia high schools sports teams.

I’m thankful for my still-in-my-mind Los Angeles Rams and Lakers,

who are still on winning ways and even thankful for the UCLA Bruins,

who aren’t.

I’m thankful for the Balboa Ferry and how much fun my daughters

have when we take trips across the harbor and back.

I’m thankful for both piers and the beaches, the Back Bay, Crystal

Cove, the Fun Zone, the Orange County Fair, Maria Elena’s El

Ranchito, for the Crab Cooker’s clam chowder, the Yard House and

Maggianos.

I’m thankful for Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza, the

Christmas Boat Parade the Taste of Newport and the Toshiba Senior

Classic.

I’m thankful for Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian and all the

good it does here.

I’m thankful for South Coast Repertory, the Performing Arts

Center, the Orange County Art Museum, the Newport Beach Central

Library, the Newport Beach Film Festival, the Barclay Theater and all

of the arts and culture.

I’m thankful for all my journalism colleagues both in the newsroom

and out and our Publisher Tom Johnson, who trusted me with a

promotion this year and new duties.

I’m thankful for all of the Daily Pilot employees, and especially

thankful for our Advertising Director Judy Oetting.

I’m thankful for all of the columnists and the reporting, editing,

photo and sports staffs, especially Rich Dunn, who took on a new job

as sports editor this year and also added another son to his family.

And of course, I have to be thankful for that as well. I too have

a new son to be thankful for, who joins his two sisters and mom as

the apples of my eye. I don’t know what I’d do without them and all

my family and friends.

Happy Thanksgiving to all and, as always, have a safe holiday.