{"id":84228,"date":"2020-11-24T15:04:52","date_gmt":"2020-11-24T15:04:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandbox.web.rcn.net\/rcntv\/?p=84228"},"modified":"2023-04-14T18:27:30","modified_gmt":"2023-04-14T18:27:30","slug":"thanks-giving-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/thanks-giving-3\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cThanks\u201d Giving"},"content":{"rendered":"

The views expressed in this blog are<\/i> those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n


\nBelow is a blog I wrote last year.\u00a0 Since my feelings have not changed, it is still quite appropriate so I have decided to repeat it again <\/span><\/i>with some additions in italics because of 2020:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

I heard two sentences this week that really hit home.\u00a0 The words were even more poignant since this is Thanksgiving week.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The first sentence came from a gentleman in his \u201880\u2019s. \u00a0 He said, \u201cGrowing old is good\u201d.\u00a0 I thought about that since I am getting up there or, as my younger friends constantly remind me, I have already gotten there.\u00a0 It is good.\u00a0 Every day is a new challenge but every day is welcomed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sunday night on <\/span>60 Minutes<\/span><\/i><\/a>, a former NFL player who now suffers from ALS said that when others listen to his optimistic outlook despite being diagnosed with a shortened life, they very often end their encounter with him by saying, \u201cGod bless you\u201d.\u00a0 His response is always the same, \u201cHe already has\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

For some reason, these two sentences meant a great deal to me.\u00a0 I know I often try to fill these pages with sports stories, but not this week.\u00a0 I have plenty to be thankful for.\u00a0 I, along with many others, I\u2019m sure, rarely verbalize it.\u00a0 Since I have this venue, this is as good a time as any to say \u201cThank you\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks to my wife of 57 years.\u00a0 She has always been my rock.\u00a0 I\u2019m not so sure about me.\u00a0 People who know me and then see her often say to her \u201cYou must be a Saint\u201d.\u00a0 I can tell you she is.\u00a0 <\/span>These past eight months have added to her sainthood resume.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Thanks to my children and grandchildren.\u00a0 For my wife, Luba and I, they are our pride and joy.\u00a0 They are all successful, caring, and nice people.\u00a0 And they are happy.\u00a0 What more could any parent or grandparent want?\u00a0 <\/span>Maybe getting together for Thanksgiving, but we all decided not to do it this year.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Thanks to RCN<\/a>.\u00a0 My occupational ventures have taken me from the classroom to the broadcasting booth.\u00a0 The ride has been spectacular.\u00a0 I started with Twin-County, stayed on with C-Tec, and continue the journey with RCN.\u00a0 Vocationally, it is the best time of my life and the company continues to allow this guy to represent them in public.\u00a0 I really appreciate that.\u00a0 <\/span>The company deserves special thanks this year \u2013 they have kept us all safe and employed.\u00a0 They have allowed us to adapt to the new \u201cnormal\u201d and, in doing so, have kept serving our customers with the highest standards.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Thanks to the viewers.\u00a0 They are appreciative.\u00a0 They complain when we do not games, but even that is a compliment in a way.\u00a0 And when they offer criticism, we take it to heart and try to get better.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks to the athletic directors, the coaches, and the statisticians.\u00a0 This job would be a nightmare without their help.\u00a0 Luckily they ALL help.\u00a0 <\/span>This Corona year has made their jobs even more of a nightmare, but they got through the ever-changing fall season by always looking out for the safety and well-being of the student-athletes under their domain.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Thanks to the student-athletes.\u00a0 If you want to feel and stay young, hang around young people.\u00a0 I know every time I interview a Lafayette<\/a> student, I come away thinking these are the citizens who will fix the world.\u00a0 <\/span>I truly feel badly for all the athletes whose seasons were curtailed, postponed, or eliminated this past year.\u00a0 Health priorities took precedence as they should have, but many memories cannot be captured.\u00a0 Hopefully, we are all stronger and healthier because of those decisions.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Special thanks to the RCN television team.\u00a0 There are so many workers (and, boy, do they work) who run the wires, set up the cameras, the audio, the graphics, and the booths for every game only to tear it down and do it all over again many times each week.<\/span>\u00a0 This year was like no other forcing us to adapt to a new way of doing things.\u00a0 Due to the ingenuity of the RCN crew, we were able to bring you sports with a team that took every precaution to stay safe, even having us announce games without actually being at the event.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t the same, but it worked.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks to Kristin Vitovitch <\/span>and congratulations to her.\u00a0 She recently was given a well-deserved promotion in our HR Department.\u00a0 I have lost a valuable partner, but am ecstatic that her talents continue to be recognized! You go, girl!!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Thanks to Joanne G.\u00a0 She has to read and edit this blog every week.\u00a0 So at least I know one person has read it and corrected it.\u00a0 She keeps me out of trouble and I thank her for that and feel a little sorry for her.\u00a0 <\/span>This is my 400<\/span><\/i>th<\/span><\/i> blog \u2013 400<\/span><\/i>th<\/span><\/i>!\u00a0 She continues to be my first line of defense from making a fool of myself.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Making this list felt good.\u00a0 And, to review, – , \u201cGrowing old is good\u201d and God has blessed me.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Happy Thanksgiving to you!<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)<\/b><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The high school football season could not have had a better game to finish off this crazy year.\u00a0 I hope you watched the Freedom<\/a>–Nazareth<\/a> game on Friday night.\u00a0 Nazareth won their second straight 6A championship by a 37-29 score, but Freedom fought to the very end with an interception by Nazareth in the end zone ending the game.\u00a0 Both teams deserve praise for their efforts.\n

    <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n

  2. What has happened to Penn State football?\u00a0 Iowa beat them this past Saturday 41-21 and they dropped to 0-5 for the first time ever.\u00a0 They have allowed 30 or more points in every game this year and the offense looks just as bad.\u00a0 Blue and White fans will not be pleased with head coach James Franklin.\u00a0 Michigan is next and they are 1-3.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. The Eagles<\/a> are a bad football team.\u00a0 Their offensive line is just awful; Carson Wentz is overthrowing and underthrowing everybody except the opposition; the defense is tasked with making too many plays; and the coaching staff is at a loss how to overcome these problems. The Eagles play Seattle, Green Bay, New Orleans, and Arizona in the next four weeks and there does not seem to be a win there.\u00a0 Wow!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. As we try to anticipate a winter season of basketball and football, some schools are already putting everything on hold.\u00a0 Liberty, Freedom, and Palmerton are all holding off practices until the middle of January and games until the end of January.\u00a0 It\u2019s hard to imagine that others will not do the same.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n
        1. The Dream Come True<\/a> Telethon will be virtual this year.\u00a0 It will be aired on RCN-TV on Monday, December 7.\u00a0 While this year is different, every day Lehigh Valley children are affected by life-altering illnesses. Now more than ever, we are counting on you to tune in, donate and help kids live their dreams.\u00a0 Bid on YOUR dream items in our auction, or donate to help us make more dreams come true! Visit <\/span>www.rcn.com\/RCNTV<\/span><\/a> for more information.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Gary\u2019s Guesses: NFL Picks \u2013 (LAST WEEK \u2013 6-8; OVERALL- 103-55-1 – 65%)<\/b><\/p>\n

          Houston<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

          Dallas<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

          Pittsburgh<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

          Giants<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

          Miami<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

          Las Vegas<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

          New England<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

          Cleveland<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

          Carolina<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

          Indianapolis<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

          Buffalo<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

          New Orleans<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

          LA Rams<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

          Kansas City<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

          Green Bay<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

          Seattle<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company. Below is a blog I wrote last year.\u00a0 Since my feelings have not changed, it is still quite appropriate so I have decided to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"Yoast SEO Relevanssi index exclude","inline_featured_image":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-behind-the-mic"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\u201cThanks\u201d Giving - ATVN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u201cThanks\u201d Giving - ATVN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company. Below is a blog I wrote last year.\u00a0 Since my feelings have not changed, it is still quite appropriate so I have decided to...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/thanks-giving-3\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"ATVN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-11-24T15:04:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-04-14T18:27:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Gary Laubach\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Gary Laubach\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.astound.com\\\/atvn\\\/thanks-giving-3\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.astound.com\\\/atvn\\\/thanks-giving-3\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Gary Laubach\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.astound.com\\\/atvn\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/149d57a8e347f18c57a13b75a3c0f3ee\"},\"headline\":\"\u201cThanks\u201d Giving\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-11-24T15:04:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-04-14T18:27:30+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.astound.com\\\/atvn\\\/thanks-giving-3\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1245,\"commentCount\":0,\"articleSection\":[\"Behind the Mic\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.astound.com\\\/atvn\\\/thanks-giving-3\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.astound.com\\\/atvn\\\/thanks-giving-3\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.astound.com\\\/atvn\\\/thanks-giving-3\\\/\",\"name\":\"\u201cThanks\u201d Giving - ATVN\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.astound.com\\\/atvn\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2020-11-24T15:04:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-04-14T18:27:30+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.astound.com\\\/atvn\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/149d57a8e347f18c57a13b75a3c0f3ee\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.astound.com\\\/atvn\\\/thanks-giving-3\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.astound.com\\\/atvn\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.astound.com\\\/atvn\\\/\",\"name\":\"ATVN\",\"description\":\"Local Programming & Astound Digital Cable, Internet & Phone Services\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.astound.com\\\/atvn\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.astound.com\\\/atvn\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/149d57a8e347f18c57a13b75a3c0f3ee\",\"name\":\"Gary Laubach\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"\\\/atvn\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2014\\\/11\\\/Gary-Laubach-Behind-the-Mic-Author-Image.jpg\",\"url\":\"\\\/atvn\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2014\\\/11\\\/Gary-Laubach-Behind-the-Mic-Author-Image.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"\\\/atvn\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2014\\\/11\\\/Gary-Laubach-Behind-the-Mic-Author-Image.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Gary Laubach\"},\"description\":\"Gary began his broadcasting career with Twin County in 1972. Twin County eventually became C-TEC and then Astound Broadband. Gary is currently a Sports Broadcaster for Lafayette College.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.astound.com\\\/atvn\\\/author\\\/rcntvgary\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"\u201cThanks\u201d Giving - ATVN","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"\u201cThanks\u201d Giving - ATVN","og_description":"The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company. Below is a blog I wrote last year.\u00a0 Since my feelings have not changed, it is still quite appropriate so I have decided to...","og_url":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/thanks-giving-3\/","og_site_name":"ATVN","article_published_time":"2020-11-24T15:04:52+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-04-14T18:27:30+00:00","author":"Gary Laubach","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Gary Laubach","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/thanks-giving-3\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/thanks-giving-3\/"},"author":{"name":"Gary Laubach","@id":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/#\/schema\/person\/149d57a8e347f18c57a13b75a3c0f3ee"},"headline":"\u201cThanks\u201d Giving","datePublished":"2020-11-24T15:04:52+00:00","dateModified":"2023-04-14T18:27:30+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/thanks-giving-3\/"},"wordCount":1245,"commentCount":0,"articleSection":["Behind the Mic"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/thanks-giving-3\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/thanks-giving-3\/","url":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/thanks-giving-3\/","name":"\u201cThanks\u201d Giving - ATVN","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/#website"},"datePublished":"2020-11-24T15:04:52+00:00","dateModified":"2023-04-14T18:27:30+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/#\/schema\/person\/149d57a8e347f18c57a13b75a3c0f3ee"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/thanks-giving-3\/"]}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/","name":"ATVN","description":"Local Programming & Astound Digital Cable, Internet & Phone Services","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/#\/schema\/person\/149d57a8e347f18c57a13b75a3c0f3ee","name":"Gary Laubach","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"\/atvn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Gary-Laubach-Behind-the-Mic-Author-Image.jpg","url":"\/atvn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Gary-Laubach-Behind-the-Mic-Author-Image.jpg","contentUrl":"\/atvn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Gary-Laubach-Behind-the-Mic-Author-Image.jpg","caption":"Gary Laubach"},"description":"Gary began his broadcasting career with Twin County in 1972. Twin County eventually became C-TEC and then Astound Broadband. Gary is currently a Sports Broadcaster for Lafayette College.","url":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/author\/rcntvgary\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84228","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=84228"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84228\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84233,"href":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84228\/revisions\/84233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=84228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=84228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=84228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}