Regrets, we’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention, particularly on Thanksgiving when we should be seeking things for which to be thankful, such as these items largely gleaned from the pages of the Whidbey News-Times over the past year.

1. All Navy, Air Force and Marine personnel from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, who we’ve reported on, have made it home safely from the war on terror.

2. Approximately 3,000 people partook of last year’s Community Thanksgiving in Oak Harbor, and just as many are expected tomorrow.

3. We didn’t have any major storms during the year, and just enough wind and rain to remind us that we live on an island in the Great Pacific Northwet.

4. Trust for Public Lands made impressive headway in acquiring public tidelands, timberlands and prairie on Whidbey Island.

5. Tourists keep coming to the island despite our politicians’ best efforts to attract them.

6. Our schools keep turning out fine young people despite our politicians’ best efforts to help them.

7. Ferry system plans to move the Keystone ferry terminal were scuttled, at least temporarily.

8. Island groups put on so many holiday bazaars that the holidays may have to be extended well into Kwanzaa.

9. We don’t have to worry about contracting Mad Turkey Disease tomorrow.

10. State ferries lost their food service but islanders still managed to gain weight.

11. Lots of little Garry oaks were planted on Central and North Whidbey.

12. Oak Harbor Rotary decided to raise $1 million to go toward a new football stadium.

13. The state gave us some money to help keep NAS Whidbey open.

14. The San de Fuca schoolhouse was restored.

15. Friends of Krueger Farm saved part of the farm.

16. It looks like the Post Office Oak, scheduled to die last March 7, will be saved after all.

17. Several wrecks closed the bridge, but none for more than 7 hours.

18. Improvements have been made to Highway 20 north of Oak Harbor.

19. The DOT sprayed less poison along the highway than in years past.

20. We can still keep at least one junk car on our property in the county.

21. Coupeville voters approved a bond issue for a new high school.

22. NAS Whidbey underwent $32 million in improvements, including a great Youth Center open to all kids in the community.

23. All the old familiar faces in the courthouse won re-election.

24. Island Transit, the little bus system that could, continues to improve without raising local taxes.

25. We will soon have a juvenile jail to call our own, but still lack one for senior citizens.

26. Fitch, Central Whidbey’s lost llama, came home to Abercrombie.

27. Local governments managed to stay out of the airport business.

28. Friends of the Library continue to do great work in Oak Harbor and elsewhere on the island.

29. School kids are helping restore the Crescent Harbor estuary.

30. The city is getting serious about replacing its animal shelter.

31. Downtown Oak Harbor is getting better despite our politicians’ efforts to help it.

32. We still have some Pearl Harbor survivors among our ranks.

33. Progress continues at Greenbank Farm.

34. Holland Happening happened again.

35. People keep writing letters to be printed in the News-Times.

36. Everybody seems able to afford $2 a gallon gas and $1.49 a pound apples.

37. SARS never landed here.

38. Marjie’s House for women and children in trouble will open soon in Oak Harbor.

39. Manresa Castle in Port Townsend is now under Oak Harbor ownership.

40. When the tide is out, the dinner table is set.

41. Islanders still take time to honor the military on Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Pearl Harbor Day.

42. The quality of our football team is vastly superior to the field it plays on.

43. Seabolt’s gave Oak Harbor its own fish market.

44. Whidbey Island Bank is moving its headquarters downtown.

45. As of yet, no islander has had to submit to a body cavity search to board a ferry.

46. We still have places where kids without a boat can go fishing.

47. When the community is in need, Island Thrift is always there to lend a hand.

48. There is no longer any danger that downtown Oak Harbor will lose its car dealers.

49. Coupeville got another bank — Peoples.

50. The commissioners upheld our constitutional right to shoot off fireworks any time of year.

51. The Island County Noxious Weed Control Board wiped out much of the Spartina in Oak Harbor.

52. Oak Harbor was saddened when its homeless man died.

53. Police nabbed the church burglar.

54. The general election vote count in Island County went smoothly.

55. WASL reading results generally improved in Oak Harbor.

56. An artist in conservative Oak Harbor surrounded her house with fishing line, balloons and lists of thoughts.

57. Aging CCC Boys were properly honored with a statue at Deception Pass State Park.

58. Voters threw out the new primary concocted by party hacks.

59. Saar’s bought Ennen’s, meaning we’ll have a locally owned major supermarket.

60. Plans to cut meals at the Oak Harbor Senior Center won’t happen.

61. The island’s biggest pumpkin weighed in at 739.5 pounds.

62. You can now Adopt a Sailor for Thanksgiving. Call 240-0521.

63. Only space limits the number of things for which we can give thanks if we really think about it.

And that’s a good thought.

Happy Thanksgiving.