The weather has finally turned here in South Dakota. We were fortunate this year to enjoy an unusually warm Fall. If you know me, you know I do not enjoy cold weather. I often tell people that just because I live in the cold doesn't mean I like it! This week, the first cold snap came just in time to usher in the start of the Holiday Season.

As I sit in front of the fire waiting for the Thanksgiving feast my beautiful Wife and loving Mother have prepared, I find myself realizing that often I don't take time to fully appreciate everything in life that collectively amounts to a life lived. To me it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without cooler weather and some flurries. As much as it pains me, I'm thankful even for the cold temperatures today!

Recently I found myself going back through all my previous BeechTalk posts over the last ten years and reading again a lot of what I've said and more importantly how others responded. A trend emerged I hadn't fully appreciated before. I was full of energy and excitement and my fellow BeechTalk members were gracious, supportive, and always willing to help. I cringed a few times at what I didn't know I didn't know and I smiled when I remembered names and posts from years past. I even laughed out loud at some witty comical responses!

BeechTalk is an aviation forum but we share so much of our lives with each other that it transcends airplanes. We all share a common interest in aviation but in the pusuit of it we end up finding common interests in each other. We share ideas. We share problems. We share solutions and support. We are community of members pursuing growth. Not only in our aviation pursuits but in our life pursuits. We are individuals finding community in our passions for flight and life.

Personal growth is not something that is obvious or easily recognized in real time and it doesn't always yield a universal truth answer. I've been fortunate like many of you to achieve goals and like many of you I set a new goal immediately, often before ever taking time to take in and appreciate what's already been accomplished. In a lot of ways this is what keeps progress moving to accomplish more but in other ways it short circuits the system and cheapens whats already been achieved.

This year my wife and I transitioned into our role as the new stewards of BeechTalk. We've learned a lot and have so much more yet to learn. I can tell you I am still full of energy and excitement and I'm happy to say that our BT community is as supportive, generous and willing to help as ever. This Thanksgiving as we spend time with our family, friends and loved ones I'm especially thankful for all of you. My fellow BeechTalk members. Over the years I've realized that I've grown immensely as an aviator and as a person. All of you had part in that growth. What we have here on BT is special. We're a collective of individuals connecting and sharing in aviation and life. A community of friends.

My family and I would like to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for being BeechTalk members and friends. Thank you for your encouragement, support and willingness to help. Thank you for sharing your lives, knowledge, and pursuits. BeechTalk is special because of you.

As we all continue to take flight to reach our next goals I want to encourage you all to take time to appreciate the little things. Reflect on what you've already accomplished. Take a trip down memory lane and see how much you've grown. There is so much to be thankful for. I am so excited to see where we all go next. I can't wait to connect with you on BeechTalk and look forward to growing together in our pursuits!

And thanks to you for keeping this going!

Thank YOU, Adam.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone on BT with best wishes for the season and upcoming New Year.

Great message Adam while I hardly even know Jordan, I know You well You, Ben and Steve were some of the first friends I made when I joined BT. The older Folks or ones closer to my age, were tough nuts to Crack Some of them took years, but I finally wore em down You Younger ones however, seamed as eager and as excited as myself, like little kids, at the discovery of BT.

Beachtalk, is Way more than just an Internet Forum, it's a Big Family, and it's Future couldn't be Brighter...... than with You and Jordan, a couple of Youngsters at the Helm.

Hope You and Your Family are having a Great Thanksgiving Weekend

Sincerely Sidney Wakeham