At Farmers Market, taking time to give thanks

Sure, your life savings are shrinking, unemployment is rising and the Dodgers could lose Manny Ramirez.

But it could be worse. You could be sick or alone, or risking your life in Iraq and Afghanistan while Pentagon officials look for new ways to deny medical coverage to injured soldiers.

On Monday I made a little sign -- "Penny for Your Thoughts: What Are You Thankful for" -- and set it on a table at the Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax in Los Angeles. Videographer Sachi Cunningham and I had no idea what to expect, but a steady stream of volunteers took a seat and held forth.

Three hours later, I realized how thankful I am, too, but I'll get to that later.

Among my first customers were brother and sister Renzo and Coco Backus, 6 and 8, who were grateful their parents wouldn't force them to eat turkey.

"Blecchhh!" they said in unison, with Coco insisting she wouldn't touch the stuff, not even for a thousand dollars.

I offered a hundred thousand.

"I wouldn't eat it for anything."

Charles Bragg, a 78-year-old artist with a black bowler hat and white beads, didn't hesitate when asked what he's grateful for.

"I'm thankful that I went broke three years ago," he said. "I don't feel the pain that everyone else is having."

His friend Ronnie Schell, a comic and actor, said he was grateful for four things.

Family first. Health second.

"And I'm old, and I forget the other two."

"I have a lousy leg," said Anne Chernak, who stepped gingerly with the help of a cane, "but thank God I'm still able to get around."

Retired computer consultant Bruce McCormick, 73, beat prostate cancer 10 years ago.

"I'm very happy to be alive," he said, and grateful for 33 years with his wife.

I spotted the LAPD Bomb Squad nearby and asked if anybody was grateful for anything in particular.

"Fingers," one officer cracked.

His colleague, Det. Ron Capra, said he was glad about the successful surgical removal of his skin cancer recently.

Capra soon had something else to be thankful for.

He was in the middle of telling me a story about how he used to work at Bob's Doughnuts in the market after school at Daniel Murphy High. At the end of each shift, he scored a free chocolate cake doughnut with sprinkles. As he shared the memory, Bob Tusquellas -- his former boss -- came over with that very doughnut and set it in front of him.