HIGH LIFE : Thanks for Families, Friends, the Good Life
Besides-- thankfully --providing most of us with a 4-day vacation, Thanksgiving is a time for reflection. It provides a time to allow us to give thanks to all the people who have touched our lives in special ways and for all our rich blessings.
Hot Topics wonders: “For what in your life do you feel most grateful?”
“I am most grateful for my parents because they love me and they’ve put a lot into me. They’re super parents all around.”
Kristen Osborne, 14, freshman, Bethel Baptist
“Our food and water. In most places in the world, you can’t eat their food or drink their water without getting tapeworms or some other disease.”
Wayne Winterstein, 15, sophomore, Brea-Olinda
“That I go to such a great school like Brea-Olinda. What other school can boast that it has half a football field and two office buildings, a Heidi’s Frogen Yozurt and a movie theater on campus?”
David Otto, 16, junior, Brea-Olinda
“Cigarettes and my health.”
Saadia Billman, 17, senior, Brea-Olinda
“My station in life. Living in Mission Viejo isn’t exciting, but it’s safe and from here you can go just about anywhere.”
Geoff Mukae, 17, senior, Capistrano Valley
“A family unit with both parents living harmoniously together most of the time and enough parental guidance to help me make mature decisions.”
Heather Thornton, 17, senior, Capistrano Valley
“My friends; when things go wrong it’s wonderful to know someone will listen, even if they can’t understand exactly what you’re going through. I thank God for everyone who takes the time to give a smile.”
Shelley Hartfield, 17, senior, Capistrano Valley
“A happy home and family.”
Rich Shires, 17, sophomore, Capistrano Valley
“My parents--they’ve given me everything I have; my life, my car, my clothes and my security.”
Linda Lee, 17, senior, Cypress
“My psychologist, my mom, my car and my friends. They are my backbone. They help me get through my life.”
Denise Osendorf, 17, senior, Cypress
“My friends; they’ve given me support in my classes and other endeavors that I have attempted. Also, some of my teachers have helped me through their classes and I am awfully grateful.”
Larry Roethel, 17, senior, Cypress
“The ‘Twilight Zone Marathon’ every year on Thanksgiving because it’s better than watching my grandfather’s football game.”
Christi Inman, 15, sophomore, El Modena
“I am grateful for the Beatles and chocolate ice cream.”
Gina Taranto, 16, junior, El Modena
“When I was baptized.”
Kevin Meyers, 15, sophomore, Esperanza
“The fact that I can give life.”
Tracy Pugh, 17, senior, Esperanza
“Opportunities and the freedom we have to choose what we want to do.”
Nancy Haskell, 17, senior, Esperanza
“That even though I have an ugly car, it runs.”
Laura Spencer, 16, junior, Esperanza
“Even though my family is not financially well off, we have enough to get by.”
Matt Tresaugue, 15, sophomore, Esperanza
“A great, free California education.”
Brian Coleman, 16, junior, Esperanza
“That I have a good personal income, that we live in a nice area, and I have a lot of good friends.”
Brett Boukather, 18, senior, Esperanza
“For my mom working really hard to support our family.”
Zonia Gomez, 16, junior, Estancia
“For who I am and where I am.”
Jeh Hildebrand, 17, senior, Estancia
“Waves, women and weekends.”
Kirk Geooding, 18, senior, Estancia
“My parents for raising me up right.”
Todd Garber, 17, senior, Estancia
“My life.”
Eddie Duzman, 17, senior, Heritage
“My Lord, because he is the most stable thing in my life. Without him I don’t think I could handle everything I have been faced with.”
Rachel Otte, 17, senior, Lutheran
“My loving parents who have stood by my side through thick and thin.”
Jennifer Ward, 16, junior, Rosary
“Being able to pick myself up after my rough year and start a new life living with my dad, who has helped me get my life back together and given me hope for the future.”
Kim Burchit, 16, junior, Rosary
“My good health. As long as I’m feeling healthy, I can face almost anything.”
Shannon Bason, 16, junior, San Clemente
“A great friendship with my brother.”
Julie Fuller, 16, junior, San Clemente
“My house and the easy life style I have, because other kids throughout the world have it a lot tougher than any of us can imagine.”
Brian Brower, 17, senior, San Clemente
“Getting my life back together and for the support and help of the Phoenix House.”
Susan Reid, 17, senior, Santa Ana
“I’m grateful I am alive because I was a miracle baby. I was supposed to die three times at birth because I was 4 months premature and my lungs were not fully developed. I am glad I survived and was given a chance to live.”
Elizabeth Del Rio, 15, freshman, Savanna
“My bear that I can hug when I feel sad, Dr. Pepper, chocolate chip and almond mocha fudge cookies. Seriously, I’m just grateful that I have my family alive even though we’re living in different parts of the world.”
Dimo Chanpianambong, 17, senior, Savanna
“That I live in America, because it’s a wonderful place to live. I have the freedom and the choices that we all seem to take for granted.”
Cindy Aliss, 15, sophomore, Savanna
“My health, the country I live in and also for being 16 . . . finally.”
Didal Perez, 16, junior, Trabuco Hills
“Just my family. To have a good family. To be in Irvine and to live a good life.”
Alton Chow, 17, junior, University
“In addition to being alive, I am grateful for my close friends who help instill in me the knowledge that I have internal strength and outlook to survive and succeed.”
Kim Ridout, 17, senior, University
“Probably faith in God because without it, the world is basically evil and corrupt. It is a good thing to know that there is something out there that is able to change it. But I really believe that man will basically prevail in the end.”
Rocky Tang, 17, senior, University
“My dad, because he’s the best person.”
Sarah Obermayr, 17, senior, Valencia
“My most wonderful mom. She’s always there for me when I need her. She also buys me lots and lots of clothes.”
Pha Phansavath, 16, sophomore, Western
“My freedom and not having to worry about where my next meal will come from, or even if I will eat.”
Kelley Senglaub, 15, sophomore, Western
“My family and Spiderman.”
Crisin Bonilla, 18, senior, Western
Next Week’s Hot Topic: If you knew there would be a nuclear war in 1 week, what would you do?
Hot Topic responses gathered by Eric Billigmeier, Nikki Boramanand, Angela Conner, John Coxford, Rachel De Velder, John Doney, Roxanne Dyrud, Stephanie Jeffers, Lynda Kim, Cutie Lee, Joo Young Lee, Stephan Lee, Rebecca Leung, Heather Orey, Hai Pham, Gabriel Saldivar, Cindy Shaver, Kim Snow, Jana Swail, Thoy Yann.