Thanksgiving

Here we are, another Thanksgiving celebration. I'm 58, will be 59 in December, so have been around for quite a few of these special days. I do not have many special memories about the Thanksgiving holiday as a child though. Christmas when I was a kid truly overshadows any other holiday. I do have fond recollections of Thanksgiving as an adult though.

As a young married we went back and forth with the big dinner on the traditional Thursday holiday. My sister-in-law would have it, we would have it, someone would have to go to another family members for the day, all would change, the usual that happens when families meld. My divorce altered that holiday. Beth sort of took it over and that was fine with me. We were beginning to start a tradition. The tumultuous year my brother and sister in law separated was the only year we haven't all met for the Thanksgiving dinner. We corrected that the following year. Thank God, that is when we learned what the true meaning of extended family was and what family was for.

Our tradition on Thanksgiving day was for each of us to stand and tell all what we thankful for. Each year we individually had special things to be thankful for. Truly I don't believe any of us, while grateful and giving, have a clue of all we have to honestly be thankful for.

My brother served during Viet Nam. Many didn't make it home from that war. I don't think we ever properly said thanks for the safe return of this perfectly marvelous human being that has given so much back. There was a time in our lives when it was just me and him. I remember those times and still feel gratitude for having him in my life. Webster could never have enough words to describe all that he is as a man and a human being, or my love for him. I give thanks every day that he has been in my life and certainly every day that he has been in the lives of my children. They, as do I, adore him and could never imagine life without him. Of course he brought my sister-in-law Beth in to our family. Despite twists and turns in their lives Beth is a sister to me, daughter to my mother and utterly beloved auntie to my children. I cherish her and can not imagine a life without her.

My Mom was born to a poor, poor farming family. Her mother died when she was five years old. Her sisters helped raise her along with her father. She was born during the deepest depression this country has ever seen. I am in awe of her father, Rollie Witt. Without a wife at his side he raised five daughters. Didn't walk out, stayed and took care of his family. Men from that cloth just really aren't made anymore. No education to speak of my Mom found a way to take care of her family as well. I don't think she ever thought divorce was a part of her future, but it was-that and three kids with no support to speak of. She stayed and never walked out either, no matter how tough things got. I have always been grateful to lay claim to the genes of those two human beings. He lived in to his 90's and she is out there now, will celebrate 80 years next July, teaching dance, helping people set up web-sites, etc. Yeah, I'll surly claim these folks as my people.

At the age of 17 one of my sons suffered a stroke. As anyone can imagine it was devastating, to him and to us. But I discovered this young man, that had no direction or no sense of himself prior, fought like heck to get himself back. It wasn't an easy task. But he has done it. There have been setbacks for him, make no mistake. I knew he had the will to live but that next step was difficult for him to take. Proud "papa" of two Boxers he knew he had to figure out a better way to take care of all one is responsible for when it isn't just you. He finally took steps forward this year and now I have an honor student, a member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, to brag about. As is always the case, success just keeps begetting success, he is on his way. Returning to school and working like a dog to succeed has propagated more than just a good report card. It has been a watershed moment in his life and there will be no turning back for him. How wonderful to watch your son soar!

It will seem I'm playing favorites to single out just a few of the kids. They are all such wonderful human beings. Gina, my oldest (the nurse) donated a kidney while in nursing school a few years ago. Yeah, sort of just like that. You need a kidney (one of her classmates in nursing school) and we have a break coming up. Pray this is the gal that is your first responder. Her brother Mark has always been the kindest of human beings, still goes to help his Grandma if she needs it. If there is someone helping a stranger, it is him. My baby girl also has that kind heart, one she has passed on to her children, as has Gina. A mother's dream is for children that are giving, loving human beings and I really, really lucked out.

My loving prince of a husband Tom also served in Viet Nam. He returned to a country that had nothing but contempt for those that served. Being the man he is he put all that behind him and did what he had to do. Terrific father of three lovely children, I will be forever grateful for the day I met him. Together we have made a wonderful life and gratefully share with each other our children, our extended families and 8 beautiful grandchildren, with one scheduled to arrive in February.

Thanksgiving is this lovely and wonderful family I have been blessed with. Upstanding, noble, kind, smart and giving, how can one not be thankful for that? And those 8 grandchildren I alluded to above? Well in addition to being perfectly beautiful they are talented and smart. No matter where any of us has been in our lives we have never been alone. Always knew we had a meal, always knew we had a warm place we could go. I think we all always knew we could have a dream and we could go for that dream. I don't believe we can even relate to those that don't have a dream. I will forever be thankful that I have been surrounded by all these wonderful human beings that have touched my life and continue to do so on a daily basis. To them I humbly say Happy Thanksgiving.