It's Thanksgiving So Let's Be Thankful 2020 Edition!

Uh yeah, 2020. Great year huh?

Let's face it, unless you're impossibly rich and live on your own private tropical island this year has been a negative 2 on a scale of 1 to 10, especially if you live in the good old US and A. 

Between COVID, racial unrest, election turmoil, and the economy partying like it's 1930 all over again it hasn't exactly been a year too many of us can feel very thankful for. 

But there are still bright spots to be found if you just try to look for them instead of insisting on downing another bottle of Zoloft with a chaser of Maker's Mark. 

Hey, if you're reading this post that means the killer virus hasn't zombified you yet, right? Just being around means you're one step closer to reaching that rosier future we all want so you're already ahead my friend! 

Yes, I know this Thanksgiving will have varying levels of suck for all of us. Due to the epidemic it's harder to spend time with our loved ones - I know I'm not seeing mine because I don't want to be the one to put them in the hospital, or anyone else for that matter. That doesn't mean we can't try to make something positive out of it nevertheless. 

And so, in spite of all the bad news right now I'm still keeping to the Thanksgiving post tradition I started in 2015 and wishing you all have as great a holiday as possible! I hope you stay safe and hang in there for a while longer until things go back to normal.

Before I proceed to my traditional yearly list of things I'm thankful for I want to take a moment to pause and remember the over 250,000 Americans who won't be joining us this holiday due to COVID. Each one of them was a life, not a simple statistic, and as much as we'd all like to put the epidemic behind us we should never forget the ones we've lost. They should chasten us to do the right thing for others even if it means some inconvenience and sacrifice for ourselves - and if you're among those who've lost a loved one personally my sincerest condolences go out to you.

Okay, getting back to my whole thing about staying positive here's my list of things I'm thankful for this year:

- As always, my family. I haven't seen them anywhere near as much this year as I wanted to - some of them I haven't seen at all so far - but that doesn't mean I'm any less thankful for having them and the separation makes the future reunion something to relish even more.

- My friends for still putting up with my sh*t on top of all the other sh*t we're all dealing with.

- My co-workers for staying strong in a time when the job is even harder to do.

- America, my adoptive country. No, she ain't perfect and the warts are clearer than ever to see but I still believe that even with all that's happening right now this is still an amazing country. Some see the divisiveness right now and think it's all bad but the United States has never been a homogenous entity. It's our differences that have made this country as great as it is and have infused it with a sense of vitality and a desire for continuing progress. But we have to remember to work for the benefit of others and not just our own and that means using our differences for positive change, not to divide us further. Just like America survived the Civil War, the Great Depression, World War II, and the turmoil of the '60s and '70s, and became ever stronger in the aftermath, 2020 doesn't have to ruin us. If we all work together to do what's right there's nothing that can't be overcome.

- My old home of the Philippines. Haven't seen her since last year but you can bet I'll be back.

- Japan. God, I miss Japan. Seeing photos or video of Tokyo makes me long to be back there even more especially since my trip in May got nuked by you-know-what, but that just means I'll relish a future trip even more. Until then I'll keep hunting down some karaage and ramune Stateside and cackle like a madman when I imagine the fun-having I'll be doing in the future.

- Nissan for all them cool cars and trucks that this blog is about.

- My friend Lisa and her staff at the Sonora Nissan service department for always helping out with the Nissans I own.

- Jeremy, Austin, Neal, and the gang at Black Market Racing for all their hard work on my R32 GT-R.

- The people that have helped me realize my dream of owning an R34 GT-R legally in the US: Victor, Chris, Mike, Sean Morris of TopRank Importers, FullOctane Insurance, the staff at NHTSA's Import and Compliance Division, Jones & Jones Customs Brokers, TFX International, and the staff at my local Arizona MVD.

- Our local gang of car nuts here in Yuma who've been a big help through the years.

- All the various new people I've met this year for keeping life interesting.

- Bicycles. I've never felt fitter in my life and it's all thanks to a mode of transport where I have to put in all the work. I rediscovered the joy of cycling in 2017 and it's helped so much to keep me sane in 2020!

- As always, the little things. When big stuff like work, world events, and that fresh scratch you found in your favorite car's paint job get you down, finding joy in something small like a comfy couch, a hot shower, or a fresh Sausage Egg McMuffin, means you'll never be down in the dumps all the time.

- You dear reader - and now also all you Youtube video viewers - because without you 23GT wouldn't be a thing. Rest assured I'm working hard to make more cool new content for the future!

- Last but not least, God. I may not appreciate my blessings all the time, Big Bossman, but thank you for them nonetheless. Dark times these may be but I know you've got our back.

Image credit: Super GT

You didn't really think I'd forget the annual Thanksgiving image did you? Yup, just like in previous years the 2020 photo (although it's from 2019) shows off several things I'm thankful for. This time, it's Nissans and motor racing. I'm certain this time I'm not forgetting to mention anything.

Oh wait! UMBRELLAS! Umbrellas are so awesome, you know? They keep your noggin from getting wet when it's rainy and they can be your own little slice of heavenly shade when it's too sunny. Umbrellas are totally underrated. 

Yeah, that's all for that image. Take care of yourselves and see you again in 2021 where I hope we'll all be back to passing the gravy and beating up our fellow shoppers like normal!