Last year I spent Thanksgiving at the hospital at Dad's beside. The doctor had said he wouldn't make it through the day. He made it through that day and all the days since. "Thankful" isn't a strong enough word to describe my gratitude for this past year.
My daughter's family has spent the last two years out in Arizona. I absolutely live for my Saturday phone calls from the grandkids though honestly, I can't understand a word Livvie says on the phone. She talks a mile a minute and I just throw in a
"REALLY?" every few minutes. It seems to work. Anyway, no more phone calls-they are on their way back and will be living right up the road. They will be here until Andre accepts an assignment somewhere else. I'll take it.
I just got a text from my grandson that they are on their way. A moving van, two cars, two kids and two ferrets and a twenty-one hundred mile drive. Sounds like fun, huh? We'll celebrate our Thanksgiving when they get here. Well worth the wait.
I live in paradise. Really. It is eighty degrees on the 25th of November. The breeze off the bay is air conditioning my porch and I'm sitting here watching the fish jump. In a material sense I don't have a lot-the value of my house has dropped like a rock while my property taxes have gone up. But I have everything I need and pretty much everything I want. It helps that I don't want much but the bottom line is that I spend the bulk of my days happy and satisfied. I am literally surrounded by things that I am thankful for everyday.
Happy Thanksgiving to all you. Blessings aren't always readily apparent but they really are everywhere. Joy, today and every day.
Carolyn
6 comments:
Can you fill us new readers in on the story about your Dad? I'm very glad to hear that he is still around.
I'm snowed in today, so I'm not sure how to react to your description of the weather there. Maybe a little tiny bit of envy is allowed, even on Thanksgiving.
pattyjean, ten years ago Dad suffered a series of very serious strokes starting on my Mom's birthday and ending two days later on Dad's birthday. Dad didn't fit the profile of a stroke victim-never smoked, rarely drank alcohol, watched his diet and was very physically active. The strokes left him partially paralyzed and with some brain damage. In the years since he has dealt with two heart attacks, cancer and diabetes. Despite all this he remains active and he has an amazing spirit.
A couple of days before Thanksgiving last year he began having trouble breathing, was very tired and confused. We convinced him to go to the hospital but he deteriated very rapidly. Basically the valves in his heat are not working properly. He could have surgery to replace the valves but he has refused. There is no guarantee that he would survive the surgery and every reason to believe that he wouldn't. He takes medicine to keep the fluid from building up but other than that there isn't much that can be done. They gave him three months when he left the hospital and a year later he and Mom still enjoy dinners out and he exercises every day. Yes, we are on borrowed time but each day is precious. I have a lot to be thankful for.
So lovely! It's really nice to have a break from the horrors, and this is just perfect. Happy Thanksgiving, Carol. :)
A beautiful post, Carol. Thanks so much!
Very glad you are able to spend your Thanksgiving in paradise.
It sleeted in mine, but we were all so happy we hardly noticed.
Thanks for filling us in, Carol. Both your Dad and your Mom sound wonderful. Barbara Walters just had a heart valve replaced at 80 years old - it can be done now through a vein rather than the old open chest way - so your Dad may still be able to have surgery if he so decides. It's very nice to read about your appreciation of your parents, something positive makes a welcome change on the Internet.
How wonderful for you, Carol. What an uplifting post. God bless.
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