Next to life itself, families are another of God’s greatest blessings. Family life has been difficult during the coronavirus pandemic, but things are different this year.

Those who live far away from their families made it to Thanksgiving gatherings, and they have been traveling by the millions to be present for Christmas celebrations.

My immediate family has been fortunate that we all live in the Lake Charles area, and we didn’t miss an opportunity to get together yesterday for Christmas. As always, we missed Jo Ann, my late wife, but we continually remember her in the many ways that she brightened our lives and the lives of others.

Jo Ann lived to see Aurora, our first great-grandchild, and Eleanor, our second, was born on my birthday. Readers know Jessica Walker, their mother, well because of the columns I have written about her over the years. Adam, Jessica’s husband, is recovering from an accident, and Aurora is recovering from the flu.

Andrew, our grandson, is a young man now and what a blessing he has been. Andrew is our movie critic, and his mom and dad joined him last week to see “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” the blockbuster that set attendance records.

Ask Andrew about any of those movies based on Marvel Comics characters and be prepared for a lengthy rundown.

Dale, my younger brother, and I are the surviving members of the family we grew up with, and we often share memories of our parents and our three siblings.

My brother David, for example, was my main column critic. I can’t count the number of times he said, “Jim, you’re using those big words again that most folks don’t understand. Keep it simple so we can get it.”

All of us have other families, of course, like those we work with and those with whom we share similar experiences.

American Press employees have been members of my working family for over 61 years. Some are still there, and what great memories I have of those who are no longer with us.

Ward “Buddy” Threatt and I were close colleagues and eventually became co-editors. Buddy left this life too soon, but I will always remember his dedication to his job. The late Wayne Owens and I were social pals, and we had some enjoyable times together.

The colleagues that I hired over the years always made me look good, and many of them went on to become successful at other newspapers and in other occupations.  It’s impossible to name everyone, but those at the American Press whom I have known over those 61 years will always be members of my third family.

Jo Ann and I started exercising at McNeese State University in the early 1980s. I have continued to exercise in recent years at the Ward 3 Recreation Center on Power Centre Parkway and occasionally at the Enos Derbonne Center on Lake Street.

Those who work at both places and with whom I exercise have now become members of my fourth family. Some of them are no longer with us, but those who are here make my life brighter each time I get to see them and sometimes talk about the issues of the day.

Nancy Sickmann is my longtime exercising partner that I first met at McNeese. We share similar political views and sharing them while walking the Ward 3 indoor track makes time fly by.

Jamie, my daughter, has joined us now that she’s living in Lake Charles full-time. Jamie and I exercised together at McNeese some years back.

My son Bryan and his wife Edith, Andrew’s parents, are also regular exercisers. Edith comes from a big Acadiana family that we have come to know well over the years.

After David and Jo Ann’s deaths, Bryan became my No. 1 column editor. Like Jo Ann, he occasionally has to say, “Dad, you know what you are talking about, but your readers may not.”

Dr. Joe Fierro, Jamie’s husband, is a talented fellow who just installed a new kitchen faucet for me. He also helped Jamie set up and decorate my Christmas tree. A few years back they obviously realized without their help, I probably wouldn’t have a tree like the one now beautifully decorated in my living room.

As you can see, families have played a major role in my life, and what a blessing they have been. I know there are many readers that can say the same thing about their families, and may God bless each and every one of them.