There is no way for this list to be exhaustive; just gonna do five random choices!
Trash/recycling pickup people
Mr. FG and I see these guys every week while we are out for a walk, and we often think of what a tough job they have.
They’re out in all sorts of weather, lifting heavy cans, and dealing with stinky, gross stuff (especially in the summer!)
My mailman
This dude is always out here with a super cheerful attitude, even in terrible weather, even when the post office is swamped, and I appreciate him.
The people who made the COVID vaccine
No matter what else they do with their lives after this, I have to imagine that the people who developed this vaccine will feel like they have accomplished something significant in their time on the earth.
Lisey’s former boss
He had to transfer to another store, sadly, but before the transfer, they worked together at two different locations, and he took such good care of her. He was like her work dad!
People who do medical billing
That seems like such an extremely boring and tedious job to me, and I am so thankful that there are people who do this job so that I don’t have to!
The guy who built our house. It’s just a 1970s single-wide trailer that he added on to in the ’90s. He did all the work himself, and he laid it out really well. It’s a surprisingly functional house, and it now has five bedrooms. It’s REALLY hard to find a house with that much room, especially here in the land of two-room adobes, and it feels like a special providence that this was literally the ONLY house for sale in the entire county when our family of six was looking to buy one.
Also whoever built our other house next door. That one is adobe, and I don’t know who did all the original labor to make all those adobe bricks and form a house out of them, but my husband very much appreciates that the materials are still there, probably over a hundred years later, for him to work on restoring.
The guy who runs the tiny store in the village ten miles away. He doesn’t carry a lot, but he’s there and he usually has at least a gallon of milk. Even if it is twice the cost of milk at a regular store, I don’t have to drive 120 miles to get it.
My grandfather, who built the bunk bed my sons sleep in, and the oak table and chairs my family eats at every single day. He died many years ago, but I wish he could have dinner with us at that table he made when he was 18 years old, just before World War 2 began and altered his trajectory towards becoming a master cabinetmaker.
My kindergarten teacher, who taught me to read. Now that I have worked quite a bit with that age group, I know how challenging it is, but what an incredible legacy to leave with children: The ability to read. I can’t imagine my life without that.
5 people:
NICU nurses. They care for sick babies every day. I would think that it would be so hearbreaking to see such little ones so sick. And the extra jobs that they have taken on because of COVID. (We had twins in June. They took some newborn pictures for us because our one son was in the NICU and the other wasn’t going to live long due to a congenital heart defect. They were amazingly supportive the entire time).
L&D nurses (see above). Additionally, I had preterm labor scare and had to be sent by ambulance and given magnesium (which makes you feel awful). I felt like such a pain, but they were SO compassionate and understanding. Especially, when I had to go through it all without my husband because of COVID restrictions.
Parents working full time from home and caring for their kids. This is extremely hard to do.
Bosses to the above mentioned parents. Those bosses that show compassion and understanding because we are all struggling.
Therapists. A lot have switched to Telehealth, which is really hard to do therapy over. The relationship is really hard to develop/keep via a computer screen. Yet, they are showing up session after session.
(sorry mine are all COVID related…but this year has been HARD).
Oh wow, Carrie. I am so sorry for your difficulties. Big hugs to you.
1. My lovely domestic worker. She just recently returned to work after recovering from Covid19. Apart from our immense worry about her health and wellbeing, we realised just how hard she works every week in our home. Thank you, Christina!
2. Retail workers.
3. My son’s speech therapist, occupational therapist, and teachers.
4. Writers. I appreciate reading material!
5. Farmers. Because… food.
CarolineRSA- how nice on you to recognize therapists! (I’m a speech therapist)
I will thank my daughter’s teacher. There’s not much in-person teaching going on in our state and my daughter is in school so I am very thankful!
My dad who came out of retirement to lead our little country church. In-person wasn’t allowed here also but we are doing it with restrictions.
My mom for making us dinner when my husband was out of town all last week and I was extra busy with work snd the kid’s homework.
Thankful for friendships. I love my friends.
My 2 work partners. So easy to get along with! I do not take that for granted. It’s been 16 years.
Snowplow drivers!
Retail workers who have to take such risks nowadays especially
Delivery people especially in winter weather.
1. I am with you on garbage pick up people, although I think ours do not mind doing the work in the stinky summer as much as they hate doing it at 30 and 40 below zero.
2. Grocery store clerks who have to stand up for their entire shifts (I don’t know why. In Britain they have stools to sit on) and listen to cranky people or see maskless idiots.
3. Snow plow drivers.
4. Our mailman, who takes the time to put our packages in the very corner of our porch, where no one can see them. We have not heard of anyone having packages stolen in this neighborhood, and perhaps that is why, because he tries to make them inconspicuous.
5. The principal of my boarding high school. She was a tall, strong built woman and to see her striding down the hallway of our dorm, black habit billowing out at her sides and back, was to see authority in motion. She even made the priest quake. I found her aura of authority and courage of her convictions the model of the woman I wanted to become. If you were too wishy-washy or timid when she asked you something, she would snap, “Stop simpering and stand up for yourself.” Many is the time I have started stammering about to a boss and have heard my mind hiss “Stop simpering!” She taught me to be a brave person.
What a great description. And a great gift!
People who are willing to work livestock in the winter. I do enjoy eating meat.
The ancestors who planted our windbreak and many like them.
My children’s teachers. I would never make it homeschooling. 😉
People who work in the death-care industry.
Professional diplomats. Man, talk about a difficult job.
1. The dental hygienist who had such a calming presence and did great with my very-nervous little girl today. I said thank you and told her she did a great job before we left, but it didn’t feel sufficient in expressing how thankful I was for her care.
2. My Community Bible Study small group leader. I think she’s in her 70’s. She doesn’t have internet or a computer, so she drives to another lady’s house every week to use her computer to lead our discussion over Zoom! I’m so impressed with her willingness to learn so she can continue to serve.
3. Snow plow drivers. We’ve gotten a lot of snow this month and I’ve been really impressed with how well they’ve cleared the roads.
4. The manager at Dollar Tree tonight who reached out to help us find the right balloon for my daughter’s birthday and stickers for my kids’ chore charts. Her cheerful attitude and desire to help was so appreciated!
5. My mom, who loves us so selflessly and helps watch the kids when we need.