Yes, I know, the world is suffering with two wars, and aspiring authoritarian Donald Trump is actually now leading Joe Biden in some new national polls.

These are worrisome times.

And yet, we can still find things this Thanksgiving 2023 to be thankful for. I hope everyone tries. Here are a few of my favorites.

For some strange reason the two big maple trees in front of my house are always seemingly the last in New England to lose their leaves. I get an especially brilliant yellow/red show down to the bare end of fall. There were even some left after Wednesday’s winds and deluge.

I am always thankful for the vigor and stubborn seasonal staying power of those handsome maples.

I have thankfully yet to be electrocuted by Holly, my new electric car, which I named for state Rep. Holly Cheeseman of East Lyme, who has been pushing criticism of Connecticut’s electric car policy with scare tactics, warning of electrocution and employers having to install chargers for each and every worker.

I am especially grateful that Cheeseman and Republicans’ rants about electric cars, like the party’s mean attacks on transgendered youth, seem to be falling on deaf ears here in Connecticut, failed attempts at divisiveness.

Republicans, of course, didn’t fare much better this last election in blue Connecticut than they did the previous two, and I am grateful that the Trump branding of their party now seems to turn off voters even in the most local voting.

Let’s hope and give thanks that mainstream Republicans who expect to have any relevancy in Connecticut are going to finally have to decisively renounce Trump as the leader of their party, or keep losing.

I am more grateful than ever for the efficiency and the massive amount of renewable energy produced by nuclear reactors at the Millstone Power Station, as the great green hope of offshore wind power fizzles.

More nukes anyone?

I give many thanks to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy for his especially caustic remarks about Danish wind giant Ørsted, when it canceled two massive wind projects for his state.

Ørsted’s decision to “abandon its commitments,” said Murphy, was “outrageous” and calls into question the company’s “credibility and competence.”

I wish our Gov. Ned Lamont could take some lessons and remove himself from his Ørsted embrace and lingering, creepy lip lock.

I am endlessly grateful that New London is attracting major downtown investment, and this Thanksgiving looks as promising for the city’s future than any has in decades.

For much of the continuing strength of eastern Connecticut’s economy I think we have the frantic pace of submarine building at Electric Boat to thank.

I thank Stonington voters for giving Farrah Garland a solid win as a candidate for Board of Finance, her first bid for elected office, despite some nasty fear mongering, especially from the town’s cop/legislator, for some posts she made about police in the wake of the George Floyd killing and the Black Lives Matter summer.

I’m also grateful Garland’s progressive, reasonable approach to politics prevailed and that she was gracious in having to give her hard-won seat to a Republican, to satisfy minority representation laws.

I am grateful year after year for the generosity of so many among us, who give selflessly, for everything from food distribution to community building, even for good journalism on important topics in The Day.

I always thank everyone for reading here, and here’s hoping all have much to be thankful for this year, even in these worrisome times.

This is the opinion of David Collins.

d.collins@theday.com