What is Austin thankful for?

Published 1:29 pm Saturday, November 22, 2008

It’s four days until Thanksgiving, so I figured I’d go with a holiday theme.

I could write about how every year I watch “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” because 1) It revolves around Thanksgiving and 2) Where else can you see John Candy try to get a hotel room with $2 and a Casio?

I could write about some of my past Thanksgiving memories, like the time my middle sister wound up in the emergency room after she went to slice some bread, missed and sliced her hand.

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Or, I could simply take a walk on Main Street in downtown Austin and see what the business owners and employees are thankful for this year.

I think I’ll choose that one.

So where do I begin?

Bud Higgins, owner of Higgins Books, has the right idea.

He spends his hours out of the cold and surrounded by a wealth of knowledge. We talk some Austin history and a little about the holidays.

“At my age, I’m thankful I’m alive, but don’t put that down,” he says. “Well, I don’t care.”

Higgins has a cheerful tone in his voice as he talks about hosting his family next week. He’s expecting 22 people, including his brother and his one son and daughter and her husband and their baby.

My next stop is to Flaherty Paint, where I find no other than co-owner Mary Lynn Flaherty.

“Make it cool for me,” she says. “Make it profound.”

I’ll do the best I can.

Flaherty, who is a delightful business owner, is thankful for her fine family and her health. She’s also looking forward to not having to cook as her daughter Angie is hosting the holiday at her University of Minnesota at Mankato apartment.

How does that sound Ms. Flaherty?

Down the way I shift gears and step into Rydjor Bike Shop, where manager Chad Burma is hard at work and enjoying the sounds of Bob Dylan playing in the building. He also talks about how Trek is not only the shop’s best-selling bicycle brand for Austin, but it’s also the best-selling bicycle brand in the country.

“I suppose the usual,” Burma says, when asked what he’s thankful for. “Friends and family. We’re obviously thankful for the people of Austin who have allowed us to be in business for 35 years.”

My next stop is El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant, where manager Johny Sanchez greets me with a smile.

“We’re doing good,” he says. “The most important thing is health, to be healthy.”

Marie Fryer of Belles & Beaus bridal and formal wear is in a good mood even though it’s not the busiest wedding month of the year.

So, tell me Ms. Fryer, what are you thankful for?

“Definitely for my family, especially my husband,” she says. “We’re also very grateful for our local customers. We do appreciate our home crowd.”

Gideon Thompson, co-owner of Healing Palms Spa, gave thanks to the Main Street Project and the people of Austin.

“They’ve been very good to us this year,” he says. “There’s all sorts of other stuff I’m thankful for, but that’s good for now.”

Lou Beckel owns Lou’s Forever Framing.

“I’m mostly thankful for my family,” she says. “I come from a large family. I have seven brothers and a sister. Family is at the top of my list. I just pray and thank God every night that I have a home and a business and a good life because not everyone has that.”

Well said, Ms. Beckel. Now it’s back out in the cold and onto the next business.

Holly Charnecki, a waitress at Piggy Blues restaurant, is readying menus for the lunch crowd and sipping coffee accented with French Vanilla creamer.

“I don’t like it any way else,” she says. “And I’m thankful for my family.”

Sandy Bell, owner of Twice is Nice, is thankful that business is good, and she’s excited to have Steve’s Pizza coming in next store.

Speaking of next door, Lisa Granle-Tuttle, co-owner of Granle’s Custom Family Art Gallery, says she’s pretty much thankful for her family.

“I’m also thankful for the customers that I have. They’re pretty awesome.”

So there you have it.

That’s what a sample of Austin’s business owners and employees are thankful for this Thanksgiving.

As for me?

I’m thankful for Austin, my new hometown, working with the great people of Austin on a regular basis and of course spending time with family. On Thursday, I’ll drive up just south of the cities to have dinner with my middle sister and her family.

This year, I hope she’ll leave the bread slicing to me.