Inasmuch as I had nothing to do with the preparation of our Thanksgiving meal, I had time to think, and once I start thinking I never know where I’ll end up. So as I watched the busy people, each doing something quite different, but still a vital part of the whole, I saw that there was one unchanging necessity to all, and I smiled to know that, of all things, without my hometown, Murray City, there would have been no meal.

To begin with, the kitchen sink was in constant use, the bathrooms never idle, and those two areas had two basic needs. First: bringing water IN, and secondly, getting rid of it. Yeah, whether kitchen or bath, we pulled the plug for one and flipped the flusher for the other and the used water was gone.  I grinned and thanked Superintendent Danny Astill of Murray Water and Sewer Departments for his part in my day .

See where I’m going?? Stay with me, for it’s a daily happening and not just for a holiday.  The thermostat was adjusted once or twice. and I recalled how coal stoves were once the only place to cook, (or get warm), only one water faucet in the home, and the bathroom was a small one-room house in the backyard.

And, so I send thanks to Doug Hill, Director of Public Services, and his many crews. I could pass the Director on the street and not know him, but just one moment without his men and their work, would cause our hometown to completely shut down.

So, as I can’t thank each man by name, I can give thanks to Lynn Potter, Stormwater Supervisor, and Russ Kakala, Street Supervisor.  When Murray re-made My Road a few years ago, I could, and did, say Hi to them as they walked back and forth almost on my front lawn, closely keeping track of the progress being made at the different points where men were either wrecking the old or remaking the new.  It was a fascinating summer and, surprisingly, though at first I felt them to be an intrusion,  when their work was finished, and they no longer a part of my day, I loved the road ‘they’ had made, but missed them.

And as I watched the many actions of last week’s Holiday, I was surprised to see that another dozen or more vital services were made possible by  General Manager, Blaine Haacke of Murray City’s Power Company. And by golly, I’ll  fight for the right to use my fireplace, but for day to day use, although I love the look and beauty of my own hearth,  I’ll never, never want to carry out ashes as a daily chore.

Stay with me. Murray City, my hometown, activates those ON and OFF switches to give us Light, Heat, Air Conditioning, hair appliances, blenders and on and on, and without Blaine Haacke’s crews. that Power, not only our kitchens but our entire home. garage. etc. would simply be spaces filled with useless stuff.

And, please God, never let me have to call Fire Chief Gil Rodriguez for help, but I know his men are there, night and day, for I see  (hear) them going by my home often enough to know, that at any hour, day or night,  they’re up and doing. Thanks, guys and gals, nothing personal, but I also hope  to never get to know you on a business basis.

No one in our family gathering had come more than 100 or so miles but still it would have been difficult for them without today’s freeways, roads, streets, Stop & Go lights, speed limits, Police Safety patrols and so much more we take for granted. Yet, around the clock, Holiday or not, Murray’s street department sees to it that our streets are wisely patrolled, and cared for. And more thanks go to Police Chief Craig Burnett. We don’t  want to see any of them at our doors (car or home) but when necessity arrives we can’t get to the phone fast enough.

Yes, we’re all alike, for, again, we rarely think of our local government, except when it’s time to vote, to either keep the IN’S in, or vote to get them OUT, and, yes we quickly think of them when some kind of trouble comes. but as I watched through that day’s busy-ness, there wouldn’t have been much happening in any Murray home, except for the large. and oh, so silent assistance of Murray City.

I’m ashamed to admit it, but, again, we  think of the local government when we need help. Like when the heavy rain a few weeks ago fell upon wind-blown autumn leaves, and together were creating a gutter dam, and as I watched the dammed (spell it either way. it’ll fit ) leaves, caused the water to overflow into my driveway, And before it had a chance to back up more, and cause Real Trouble (as it has been known to do), I ran for the phone, made my call, and bless them, bless them, bless them, Hill’s men  came and in a short time all was well.

And did I hurry just as quickly to CALL and give thanks?  Dang it, no, I didn’t. And I apologize, but that’s exactly how casually  we accept Murray City and its many departments. They, day by day, week by week, season by season, do such a great job, that the Big Problems seldom arrive.  So double Thanks, and apologies to Doug, Lynn, Russ as well as the fellows who came and did the actual work. I’m ashamed of myself and this column is my half-way apology to you.

And a great big Thank You to Your Honor Mayor Ted Eyre. You are the leader of one of the most admired and envied Cities in the State of Utah. and your many employees in all departments, by doing their jobs so well, made not only our Thanksgiving Dinner, but our day to day lives, perfect ones.

And I send my special thanks to Rondi Knowlton, Mayor Eyre’s Administrative Assistant, who helped me so much with names and titles.  Rondi, you are priceless.