I am taking the rest of this week off (including a blogging mini-break) as my parents are in town from Germany and I rarely get to spend time with them. Last night Susan and I went to dinner with them and then to the NY Philharmonic to hear a terrific performance of Antonín Dvořák’s From the New World symphony (one of my favorites). It was a wonderful evening and also a great reminder of all the things my parents did that I am grateful for.
My parents took me to the Opera as a kid but also let me play rock music loudly at home. They took me skiing and sailing. They were the ones who encouraged me to spend a year in the US as an exchange student (and shorter stints in the UK and France before then). They paid for my Apple II and all its accessories (which were quite expensive in Germany at the time). They supported my choice to study in the US even though it was far away and they didn’t fully understand why I was excited about it.
So on this Thanksgiving: a big thanks to my parents. It’s great to have you here!