Notes

No. 1. Garbage collectors/waste treatment workers. These are the most important workers in a modern society. If it weren't for them hauling off and cleaning up our waste — which is appalling in its amount — 75 percent of us would be dead from disease.

No. 2. The military. soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen/airwomen, Coast Guard, etc. The world can be an evil place. Someone has to keep the monsters at bay. I don't always agree with why they're asked to risk their lives, but I'm grateful for those who step up when called.No. 3. Cops/firefighters/EMTs. Anyone whose job it is to keep the public safe, often despite our inclination to be otherwise. Cops aren't terribly popular right now thanks to the behavior of some, but the only reason most of us dare leave our houses after dark is because they're out there keeping the homegrown monsters in their caves.

No. 4. Nurses — all of them. I don't care whether it's bedpans or surgical assistants. Thanks to various idiot hobbies, I've spent enough time in hospitals to know who does all the work, and who actually brings me the drugs I like.

No. 5. Postal workers. I already covered them last week, but here's another shout-out to the men and women who make sure we get our stuff.

No. 6. Utility workers. By this I mean anyone whose job it is to keep the lights on, the water running, the roads patched and the snow cleared. Whatever comfort we enjoy this holiday season is due primarily to them.

No. 7. Farmers/ranchers/fishers, etc. Anyone who grows, catches, raises or otherwise contributes to keeping America fed. That hamburger or tofu sandwich didn't crawl onto your plate by itself. It required a lot of work from people who risked lightning, heatstroke and bears to get it done. Thanks.