Respectfully submitted by Lawrence E. Rafferty (rafflaw) Weekend Contributor
Although I am a few days early, I wanted to wish all RIL readers a Happy Thanksgiving. I would guess that most of us have many things to be thankful for at this time. I am thankful for my wife of 40 years and my four kids and their spouses and significant others, and of course, my 3 beautiful grandchildren. And I am thankful that we all have our health. I am also thankful that my 91-year-old mother is still with me and my 4 siblings.
While our family has had its ups and downs, we always seem to pull together to solve the problems and issues facing us. I am glad that many of us will be together at Thanksgiving to share one of the best family times of the year.
At this time of the year, many of us have many things to be thankful for. I thought it might be a good idea to offer the chance for our readers to tell us what they are thankful for.
Let’s hear what you and your family are thankful for during this holiday season. What can it hurt? Happy Thanksgiving!
” The views expressed in this posting are the author’s alone and not those of the blog, the host, or other bloggers. As an open forum, weekend bloggers post independently without pre-approval or review. Content and any displays or art are solely their decision and responsibility.”
I want to thank “rafflaw” for his provocative post, none the less timely and pertinent post. It forced me to think about everything, before I wrote what I said above, when I would ordinarily just fire off a response. It took me an entire day to thought, and for that alone I am grateful. I no doubt missed many things in my life, but life itself, for all of us is what is most important.
Thank you “rafflaw”…you did all of us a service.
Thank you, Nick. Do I have to tell him?
Nick – thanks, and that’s a great story about your dad.
“I’m thankful for pain relieving drugs being given today to my sweet daughter who is being treated for cancer. Her drugged sleep is so preferable to horrific pain. I’m thankful for pain relief for the sick and suffering.”
I will also pray for your daughter, Alice.
Sandi, Your positive attitude is a gift, as is your husband.
alice, Your daughter was just added to my prayers for those sick and/or in pain. leej, Ari, Karen’s mom and others are already on it. Karen, GREAT news about your mom. Surgeons earn their big bucks and ego.
Back in the 80’s my old man battled gastro esophageal cancer. Tagamet would have prevented it. Like your mom, surgery was the key. He had a renowned surgeon in Hartford, one of the best in New England. The man had an equally renowned ego. Well, the guy would come in and talk w/ my old man daily as he recovered. He would not just drop in. He would sit and chat. The nurses were astounded. You see, my old man was an engaging, extremely likeable man. He could cut through that ego. He would mostly listen as the surgeon processed the surgeries he did that day. He showed up @ my old man’s funeral 7 years later. The surgeon gave my old man 5-6 of those years.
I am thankful for my husband of 40 years, who has taken care of everything in the last three years while I had 6 surgeries. His cooking is getting better! I am thankful for pain management doctors who aren’t afraid of CA’s meddling with drug prescriptions. I am grateful for all the things we all are; family, friends, living surrounded by nature’s beauty. And my pets. Many are gone, but each stays by my side when it’s a tough day. But most of all, I’m thankful my parents lived in this country when I came along. Their grandparents did that. And I’m thankful for living the American Dream. First in my family to go to college. My career at IBM (because of a man I’d worked part time for recommending me to a friend), where I met my husband. The dream of going to Europe came true several times. I watched my mother add up bills and figure out who to pay, there was never enough. I swore I wouldn’t live that way and I didn’t! I’m thankful for the brain God gave me, without it my life wouldn’t have been this way. I am thankful for this country; especially the people who wrote our Constitution.
As we’ve traveled to other countries, we’ve met people who envy our freedom. Even in the UK! One man gave us a lecture about the beauty of our lives due to our Bill of Rights. He said “fight for them, never let them go.” This was years ago, but I can hear him today. It doesn’t matter what philosophy anyone has about politics. We fight about the journey, but agree on the destination.
Happy Thanksgiving, to everyone at RIL.
I am so thankful for my family, my pets, the roof over our heads, and food on the table. I love my little boy more than life, he is a joy, and I love being a wife and mom.
I am immeasurably joyful and humbly grateful that my mother has been declared cancer free from her surgery last month. The edges were only 1 mm in places. We were so lucky and blessed, because her cancer was rare, and apparently chemo and radiation would have caused it to spread aggressively. Surgery was her chance. I am grateful that her surgeons had a steady hand, got it all, and took such good care of her. And I’m grateful the surgeon kept my father updated via a kind nurse every 90 minutes of her grueling 7 hour surgery. My parents are soul mates, and I don’t think my Dad would survive losing her. My military Dad, who is strong in every crisis, was absolutely shattered at the very thought that his wife was battling for her life and he couldn’t step in front of her. I thank God they found this excellent surgeon, after we had such a bad experience with the past one. And I pray for my mom’s recovery, as she adapts to the differences in her body. She can do anything with my dad holding her hand. Every moment we have with loved ones is an immeasurable treasure.
I’m also grateful that Professor Turley created this blog, so that I, who am not a lawyer, can gain some insight into the legal perspective of current events. I’m also thankful for the weekend guest bloggers who take time out of their day to create interesting articles, fish posts out of the Vortex of Doom, and try to corral us all into the lanes of civility.
Lee – I’m so glad you achieved remission. Enjoy the sunshine. 🙂
Alice – I pray your daughter also gets the gift of remission, relief from her pain in the meantime, and strength, and a shoulder to lean on, for you in this time of crisis.
Aridog – I am grateful you are here and contributing, and have a joyful life. I also pray you receive the gift of remission.
Survivors of wars have to live the best lives possible, because they’re living for all the guys who didn’t make it. They have to have great stories to share when they’re all reunited. Survivors’ guilt can shut people down, but can you imagine telling the guys later that all he did with his chance was lock himself away from life? Most boring story ever. The best stories are those filled with love and adventure. So I also pray for those struggling with PTSD, survivors’ guilt, and other heavy burdens from serving our country. And I pray for those currently deployed during the holidays, and for their families, who miss them terribly, and will be gripped with worry until they return.
alicefayeharris….What leejcaroll said ….