For this city of plentiful blessings, let us be thankful
Auston Matthews celebrates scoring the Leafs’ first goal of the season.
A moment to inspire gratitude, just in time for Thanksgiving: Auston Matthews, in the first game of the most anticipated Toronto Maple Leafs season in generations, takes a pass at the top of the left circle, pulls the puck six feet across his body and wires a wrist shot to the top right corner of the net. A perfect, satisfying “ping,” off the post and in, as a defender and goalie wonder exactly how the puck got from here to there.
What a magical sequence for a hockey fan to get to see. What a hopeful start to the season for a Leaf fan. What a player, dressed in blue and white. A moment of joy — small, fleeting, maybe insignificant in any larger scheme. But a moment nonetheless.
I’ll take all the moments I can get. It has been a difficult year in Toronto for many. We’ve seen political turbulence and traumatic violence. The waves of news coming from near and far can inspire dread and depression and fear. On a holiday dedicated to counting blessings and offering gratitude, it’s worth a moment to reflect on the many things, large and small, that provide joy in our lives.
As I traditionally recall at this time of year, my late grandfather Frank Keenan would offer a traditional grace before meals on occasions like Thanksgiving dinner: “For food in a world where many walk in hunger, for faith in a world where many walk in fear, for friends in a world where many walk alone, for these and other blessings, we give humble thanks.”
Amen — for all of these, and other blessings: for a Maple Leafs team that is fantastic fun to watch, yes; for a Raptors team that has just added one of the best players in the world; for Blue Jays fans who were able to offer a rare standing ovation to a beloved departing manager while anticipating the arrival next year of the most heralded prospect in baseball.
For the ice available for us to skate on at arenas around the city, and in the many dozens of local parks during the tooshort but exhilarating outdoor shinny season. For the water in the public pools during the too-short but refreshing outdoor swimming season. For the gravel infields of kids’ baseball diamonds, for the soccer and cricket pitches around the city. For the grassy parks — large ones like High Park and Bluffer’s Park and Centennial Park, yes, but also for small but beloved neighbourhood ones at the ends of our blocks. And for the well-used playgrounds within them.
For the armies of volunteers who make children’s sports leagues and activities function in every corner of the city. For the legions who donate their time to charities to feed the hungry and house the homeless and struggle for justice. For the many who, during a murderous attack on Yonge St. this year, showed the courage and generosity to provide immediate aid and shelter to the injured.
For the best public library system in the world. For highcalibre public schools. For the view of the city at night when you drive into downtown on the western Gardiner Expressway.
For a transit system that makes it possible to commute to the corners of the city without a car (and the dimmed but eternal hope for eventual improvements to that system).
For tobogganing at Riverdale Park. For the skate loop at the Bentway. For the Henry Moore sculpture in Grange Park, still amazing after all these years and in its new location. For the great markets, Kensington and St. Lawrence.
For a city in which people from every corner of the globe, speaking virtually every language, share common complaints about traffic and how bad Toronto drivers are.
For subway station beef patties and a million street-vendor hot dog toppings and for peameal bacon and big sloppy Italian veal sandwiches. For the onion rings from Jumbo Burger and the soft serve ice cream from Tom’s Dairy Freeze and the giant burgers from The Real McCoy.
For this great big lake we live on with its abundant fresh drinking water, and for the sandy beaches and sprawling parks along it, and for the islands which, if you endure the frustrations of the ferry terminal, reward you with a peaceful escape where the stresses of everyday life feel a million miles away.
For all the things great and small that provide a life worth living, full of community energy and offering enough stability to offer the hope that more is possible.
For the energy, on some days, to strive to achieve it. And for all the things that provide smiles and satisfaction and inspiration along the way.
For these and other blessings, thanks.