The practice of gratitude — or even partaking of a fleeting glimmer — has mostly fallen into the abyss. Who's got time to be appreciative anymore? It's easier to carp about what we don't have.

But then as a wise man once asked, "If you aren't grateful for what you already have, what makes you think you would be happy with more?"

In this spirit, I speak for every parent and kid who played a fall high school sport here in our corner of the world: Many thanks to the athletic directors of the Eastern Connecticut Conference for their diligence in making this abnormal season work.

That which irritates many of us the most — a million little haunting details — became a daily dilemma around the games our kids play. But the league's leadership cultivated the resourcefulness to not merely endure, but prevail. There should be applause.

The fall season ends this week with a 2020 version of championship events. Impressive that we made it this far, given that COVID cases are higher than ever here and across the country, all while the virus has become a momentary postscript to a voting process that takes longer to complete than most divorces.

It's comforting to know at least the people around here get it.

A personal experience: I was at a soccer game at Waterford High last week for a GameDay webcast. Everyone entering the field had to fill out a COVID-related sheet and provide a phone number for contact tracing purposes. The bleachers had "sit here" signs several feet apart affixed to them, helping spectators know where (and where not) to sit.

This required attention to detail — amid many other daily details the virus has wrought. Somebody had to walk up and down several rows of bleachers on both sides (there is seating for a few thousand at Waterford) to set up those "sit here" stickers. Somebody had to make sure there were enough sheets to fill out, pens to use. Announcements were made asking spectators to quickly exit after the game because the players were not allowed to leave the field until everyone else was gone. And all this comes after scores and scores of games were postponed and rescheduled because of COVID, thus creating more headaches.

Those are details nobody ever had to worry about pre-pandemic. Chris Landry, Waterford's athletic director, was everywhere that day tending to all the technicalities. His colleagues have done the same. It is greatly appreciated.

Will we have a winter season? We can hope. Cases are spiking. Gov. Lamont, whose leadership is also noteworthy (his daily news conferences at least answer many questions we have) said last week that basketball, gymnastics and hockey are still a go, provided the kids wear masks. The CIAC will have more information this week.

Here's what we know: If it's doable, it'll happen in the ECC first. This league has become a beacon across the state. Pre-pandemic, the ECC was lauded for moving its basketball championships to Mohegan Sun. Let the record show that the ECC was the first league in the state to create "football activities" for the kids and coaches this fall to give them some kind of experience. The hope remains for a football season in second semester.

It's been uplifting to read about the experiences of the kids and coaches this fall. Many of them are simply appreciating the opportunity to be together, knowing it could all end tomorrow. They made it this far. And they made it because their esprit de corps morphed with abiding support from their leadership.

So to ECC commissioner Gary Makowicki and all the ADs: Steve, Chris, Phil, Vin, Bryan, Jim, Ellen, Marc, Roy, Steve, Jan, Kevin, Deb, Scott, Kevin, Pat, Sue, Glenn and Sean. Congrats on a job well done.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro