Well, it’s that time.

Every Thanksgiving, I come up with an even-numbered list of things for which I’m thankful.  I know some people are saying that we shouldn’t be thankful for anything this year.  There are people who say that, because they’re miserable, it’s somehow offensive that everyone else isn’t miserable.

But you know what?

Screw that.

Never be ashamed of being happy.  Never feel like you can’t be thankful.

1) I’m thankful for our readers.  2025 has been the most successful and busy year that Through the Shattered Lens has had in a very long time.  In both October and November, we have set records for the number of site views we’ve received.  Thank you to all of you.  I hope you’ve enjoyed what you’ve found on this site and I hope you’ll continue to read in 2026!

2) I’m thankful for our contributors!  Arleigh, Erin, Jeff, Leonard, Brad, Case, and the music lover by the name of Necromoonyeti, thank you so much for your contributions this year.  Thank you for making this a site of not just one opinion but of many opinions.  Thank you for inspiring me to keep writing, if just to keep up with the great work that all of you are doing!

3) I’m thankful to once again be an American!  A few weeks ago, twitter (or X or whatever the Hell you want to call it) made public where everyone’s account was located.  It was a needed action.  A lot of accounts that have been at the forefront of spreading disinformation and brewing conflict in the United States were revealed to be located in Russia and the Middle East.  However, the process wasn’t perfect.  For four days, due to a VPN that I was definitely not using to watch movies that weren’t available in the U.S., my account was listed as being based in Ireland.  While I am of Irish descent, I am definitely based in Texas.  I’m glad to say that twitter has fixed the error and I can now say “Happy Thanksgiving!” without having to worry about someone saying, “Aren’t you in Ireland?”

4) I haven’t watched a lot of television this year but I will say that I am thankful that the King of the Hill reboot was wonderful and more than worthy continuation.  The show managed to keep up with the changing times while retaining the humor and outlook that made it a classic to begin with.  All reboots should be this good!  I’m thankful for Mike Judge.  (I’m also thankful for Greg Daniels, despite what happened with The Paper.)

5) I’m thankful that I stopped watching All’s Fair after the first episode.  Sometimes, a bad show is just a bad show and there’s nothing wrong with admitting that.  Not everything is camp.  Sometimes, it’s just crap.

6) I’m thankful that the horror genre — thanks to films like Sinners, Weapons, and Frankenstein this year and Nosferatu last year — is finally getting some respect.  I’m less thankful that some of the genre’s new fans still look down on the horror films of the past.

7) I’m thankful for my family. Last year was not an easy one for us.  This year, we dealt with even more loss.  But we were there for each other and we always will be.  I’m happy to be spending this Thanksgiving with them.

8) I’m thankful for American Anthem!  Seriously, I’ve watched that stupid movie seven times this year.  Steve Tevere has thrown a tripus!

9) I don’t care what anyone says.  I liked Happy Gilmore 2.

10) Most importantly, I’m thankful that we’re all still here and we’re all still moving forward.

Happy Thanksgiving!