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November 21, 2003
STREET TALK by Shari Kaplan
With Thanksgiving just around the cover, what are you
most thankful for?
(Asked at Redwood Shopping Center at Almaden Expressway and
Redmond Avenue.)
“I'm grateful for just being alive. With all of the violence
and killing and war going on in the world, I'm thankful to be here.
I was out of work for about a year, but I have a job again, so I'm
very thankful about that too. I'm also thankful for coffee—I
can't function without it!”
Paymon Assadinia, 38
Almaden Valley
Technical support engineer
“I've been thinking about that, and I just keep coming back
to my family. You could have all the money in the world, but you
can't buy your family or your friends, or your health. My aunt is
95 and my mother is 94—I'm thankful they're both going strong.
This tells me I'd better take care of myself because I'm going to
be around a long time!”
Vickie Poitevin, "50-something"
Almaden Valley
Unicorn Thrift Shop volunteer
“I'm thankful to be around for Thanksgiving this year, and
I'm looking forward to giving thanks next year, too. I'm also thankful
for my dachshund, Pokey, who I rescued about two years ago. His
love is unconditional with no strings attached and no game-playing.
We both need each other. He's thankful for Thanksgiving too, because
he loves eating all the scraps!”
Greg Smith, 39
Almaden Valley native (now in Milpitas)
Roofing contractor
“My answer is good health, family and friends. Without that,
you don't have anything! Thanksgiving is a big thing we do every
year, because we don't do Christmas. Thanksgiving is the one time
each year that the family gets together. I have three sons but they're
all in different places: one lives in Connecticut, one lives in
Washington state and one lives in the northern part of Northern
California.”
Anne Bauer, 72
Almaden Valley
Library volunteer and retired travel agent
“My health is good; my wife's health is good; I have four
kids; my grandkids are well; they're all working. The economy doesn't
really have a huge effect on me, because I've been retired for the
last eight years. Going golfing at the country club and spending
time with my kids and grandkids is primarily what I do. I can't
complain!”
John Pieper, 63
Almaden Valley
Retired San Jose Fire Department arson investigator
"This year I'm most grateful for my new twin granddaughters.
They were born early but they're thriving and gorgeous. I'm very
grateful for 33 years of a happy, healthy marriage. I'm also thankful
for being able to work here in Almaden Valley; I especially like
coming to work in the fall, because it enables me to see all the
beautiful colors on the trees.”
Mary Beth Spring, 61
Sunnyvale
Holy Spirit School administrative assistant
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