What are you the most thankful for this year?
I spoke with my Aunt last night. She is now 84 but going on 40, I think. She lives about 5 hours from us, so it isn’t easy just to run over and see her. We did, however, this summer and caught up with some cousins that I hadn’t seen since my Uncle passed.
That is the sad part of life, isn’t it? We don’t have the time or money to make some of the important trips until there is a death. Then, of course, we make the trip and find the time and money to do so.
Best memory? This is easy. 3:30 in the morning. November 22, 1973. My wife, Joan, wakes me up and tells me that she thinks she is going into labor. It was our first child. We were all of 19 and had absolutely no idea what we were doing. We named her Jennifer Joan. Her named has morphed from JJ, to Jae, and now back to Jennifer – what her fiancée calls her.
At 7 a.m. this 7-pound bundle of joy arrived. A girl!!! Back in 1973 we really didn’t care what the sex of the baby was. We didn’t have the blue/pink cake parties. We just wanted to be surprised and our baby to be healthy. She was.
Not far from the hospital was my aunt and uncle’s house. I drove straight there and start calling people. Remember, no mobile service in 1973! Hard to remember what Jae’s first bedroom was like. I’m sure we got a used crib . . . we were broke! I do remember we did get, though, a bassinet that we could put next to our bed.
46 years ago.
In June we celebrated Father’s Day. There were all three kids – now 45, 42 and 41. We were at my youngest son’s house. Joan and I divorced in 1984. It didn’t make any difference. One of my favorite pictures has all the kids, and 7 of the 9 grandkids, Mary Kay standing by my side and Joan standing next to her. Joan’s husband is also in the picture.
In the past 35 years Joan and I have gone through life living miles apart. The kids know we are still a family – a lot different and larger than when we started but the love is still there. So much to be grateful for.
When MK and I lived in Florida we learned of a tradition from our Pastor. The Pastor told us that his family has a tradition- a tablecloth that they’ve had for many years and use a Sharpie to write down what they are thankful for, then date it, while having Thanksgiving dinner. The tablecloth can be washed but the Sharpie doesn’t wash out.
He shared how cool it was to see the years transcend. People who died. Babies who were born and became young men and women. It also reminded the family that Thanksgiving is about giving thanks – not about football. (But I love a great football game or two on that Thursday)
So, my question. What will you be thankful this year and I mean REALLY thankful for this year? I’ll be in Cleveland spending time with my youngest son and wife as their two sons – 6 and 8. My boys! MK will be spending time with her brother and his wife a couple hours north of Spokane. With some family health issues we made the tough decision to spread the love. Everyday seems like Thanksgiving for us.
Happy Thanksgiving.
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