For me, this holiday is really about Turkey Day, my marathon of cinematic shipwrecks that I’ve been doing for almost two decades (which I hope you can join us tomorrow!). But no matter what your beliefs or feelings about the actual Thanksgiving, it should be a time to think about what you are thankful for. Granted, we shouldn’t have to wait until one day a year for it and should think and appreciate that every single day. But here are a few things that I am thankful for.

I’m thankful to all the convention promoters that bust their asses off all year to try and make an amazing time for fellow horror fans. It’s no easy task, so they should be appreciated for what they are trying to do. People like Ron Adams from Monster Bash, Mike and Mia Kerz from Flashback, Aaron and Nathan from HorrorHound, and so many others. Thank you for your hard work.

I’m thankful for those that run and operate drive-in theaters. You are fighting a constant battle just to keep giving fans that experience that we had decades ago, or to the ones that you care helping create new experiences for. Again, it is not an easy task, and a lot of hard work goes into it each and every year. So, thank you for the help keeping our passion alive.

I’m thankful for my friends and fellow horror fans. You are the ones that help keep my own passion alive, knowing that we can have conversations ranging from fun and light-hearted discussions to very deep and intelligent dives into the possible meanings to these films that we have watched. It really is a hunger that feeds off of each other, never sated and always craving more. Okay…must be getting close to lunch time because I’m starting to use food metaphors. But a huge thank you to my friends. I miss the get-togethers and hope those can start back up soon.

I’m thankful to each of you out there that has followed my website and other ramblings, from either my writing in HorrorHound or other outlets, as well as our new Discover the Horror Podcast. Your support means the world to me and is another thing that keeps my passion burning bright. It means that what I’m doing is more than worth it, and not just for my own sanity! I couldn’t thank you enough for this.

I’m thankful for all the hardworking writers out there that continue to decide that they need to write a book on the horror genre, whether it be a book of interviews, biographies, or just stories that need to be told. While my wallet might not be too grateful, you are the ones that help me, along many others, continue down their path in their horror education and enlightenment. Sounds pretty classy, huh? But I do appreciate all the hard work you are going through because most of us know that you’ll never being filthy rich from being a writer. Unless you’re that guy from Maine.

I’m thankful to my son for following his dream. Sure, he may have the same struggles with the “job” like we all do, but he still loves what he does, and for me personally, for him to be able to follow that is probably one of the things that I am most thankful for.

And of course, I am most thankful to my wife, for not only letting me be who I am, but joining me in that journey as my partner. Never complaining how my library seems to be ever-growing in size, or when a new poster shows up on the wall never questioning where it came from or how much I spent on it, or flat out telling me NO when I request a cake for our next Turkey Day Marathon. We’ve been together for close to 40 years, and I try to remind myself every day just how lucky I am.

So, to everyone here at Kitley’s Krypt, we wish you a Happy Turkey Day. And remember, no matter how messed up the world might be right now, tomorrow, or next year, there are still plenty of things to be thankful for. We need to try and keep those in focus each and every day.