Karla's Kolumn: Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

As always if we take the time we can find that there is much for which we should be and can be thankful.

As I write this I cannot help but think of one Worland resident, Maricela Moreno who is thankful for her U.S. citizenship.

Moreno was one of 14 Wyoming residents who became U.S. citizens down in Cheyenne on Nov. 15. When I spoke to her later that day there was no doubting the excitement in her voice as she spoke about the two years she worked to be able to take the Oath of Allegiance.

She mentioned that the presiding magistrate talked about how much harder those 14 had it in becoming citizens than those of us who were born as citizens. That got me to thinking, I wonder how many U.S. born citizens take being a citizen for granted?

Do we shout it as Maricela did to me over the phone. "I am so excited," she proclaimed.

She didn't complain about any of her leaders, she didn't complain about inflation, she didn't complain about gas prices. She was excited to have earned her citizenship.

I think sometimes when something comes easy for us we do not appreciate it as much as when we have had to work for something.

So, this week, before you gather around the Thanksgiving table, think about your citizenship and what that means and what you can be thankful for as a citizen of the United States of America.

Yes, gas prices are high, but I remember a time when they were higher. Yes, there is inflation but I am thankful for my job and my husband's business to help us weather the inflationary storm.

I am thankful as an American citizen that we have the Constitution that includes many amendments and the foremost in my mind (as you all well know) is that first one - "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Maricela said she can't wait to exercise her right to vote next year – another major amendment and right granted to us citizens in our Constitution.

We have much to be thankful for as Americans.

Speaking of voting, I am thankful for the hard work from the county clerks and deputy clerks in the Big Horn Basin on the redistricting plan. The plan was unveiled last week and has been submitted to the Legislative Service Office.

The clerks and our area legislators are striving to keep intact the integrity of the Big Horn Basin. We are one big community in the Basin and our legislators work together on a variety of issues.

Our communities have much in common especially in the areas of agriculture and industry.

The plan is not perfect but it appears that it is what will work best for the Big Horn Basin residents.

It ensures we keep our current number of representatives and senators. I hope next year we can be thankful that the Wyoming Legislature as a whole does not change the plan as presented. They will adopt statewide redistricting plan at the session that begins Feb. 14.

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As a Worland resident I am thankful for the stores that we have. I love small towns. I understand the disadvantages but to me the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

Before heading out of the city for your Christmas shopping, or before going online, take a moment to visit the various stores in town. If you look there is quite a variety, but you have to take the time to look.

Give our local stores and businesses a chance first for your shopping needs.

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And, I'm thankful for the many activities coming up this holiday season and the many organizations and volunteers who make it happen. See a full list of activities in Worland and the southern Big Horn Basin on B3 this week.

-- Karla Pomeroy