Nov 21 2001
Thanksgiving Eve
I wonder why we don’t have Thanksgiving Eve in the same way we have Christmas Eve. Both of these holidays are preceded by a whirlwind of activity and preparation for just one day, and then it’s over. Maybe we don’t have Thanksgiving Eve because everyone’s on the road or in a plane. After all, it’s the biggest travel day of the year.
This has been the worst year of my life, even worse than the twelve month period when I lost all of my grandparents. Even if I won the lottery tonight, it would still be the worst year of my life. My 69 year old mother, a breast cancer survivor and in poor health, was left completely penniless by her heartless second husband. My beloved father and friend passed away suddenly, a loss I will never really recover from, and less than a week after I returned home from his funeral, the September 11 tragedy occurred, forever removing the remaining vestiges of innocence from our existence. This week, Thanksgiving week, Rufus was laid off from his job, after working there almost a decade.
But despite all this, I feel that I have a great deal to be thankful for. During this terrible year, I have become closer to my mother and my older sister. I have had an outpouring of love, support, and encouragement from family and friends all over the world. I had a remarkable friendship and deep bond with my father, and that will always be with me, even if he is not. I have the most wonderful husband, who makes me laugh no matter how bad things get, and who is the foundation of my life. I will be together with my family and surrounded by love at Thanksgiving. For all this, I am truly thankful. And I am looking to the future with hope.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.