Date: Thanksgiving 2011

Time: Halftime (Green Bay vs. Detroit)

Status: Forever Grateful

Info: While we’re bombarded by the media on Black Friday sales and Cyber Monday marketing, there’s very little the ad campaign industry does to promote this one day in our autumn where we pass along our gratitude to those in our lives that have made a positive impact on our lives. So let me do it.

My blog today is dedicated to the many of you that have been pointed us in the right direction. Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday as it allows all of us to come together, both physically and electronically. As I slept this morning my phone reminded me there were a number of folks out on the east coast already whooping it up. A few in the nation’s capital, a few at the 113th meeting of the Beverly Panthers and Salem Witches football game, a few in Las Vegas and even a few from the area known as South Carolina’s Low Country and my buddy in Ohio.

Mother Nature laid down a few ground rules late last night for all of us here in the North Bay to recognize. The winds were the first to arrive, followed by a fair amount of rain. She’s left us with gray skies this morning though the temperature is still perfect for a walkabout in this great little town of ours and after inspecting the amount of food being prepared last night and again this morning I think a walk around town is definitely in order for the entire clan.

Right after the football games!

While we enjoyed the comfortable confines of our cousin Cindy’s last Thanksgiving down in Menlo Park our family was cancer free. That piece of news arrived a month later and for the past ten months we’ve been working together as a family to provide comfort for, a shoulder to lean on and a heart to understand for the biggest influence in my life.

The word “gratitude” was originated in the 15th century, defined as the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful. Approximately 100 years later the Pilgrims and Native Americans sat down to express their thanks to each other and the rest of course is history.

I am looking forward to the day when all of us dealing with cancer, of any sort, can put in the rear view mirror forever. Of course there’s no cost in the cure, and I need to keep my feelings in check on that subject before I begin a rant I’ll be sorry for.

The gray skies provided by Mother Nature today have not always been the case these past ten months. Even after the initial diagnosis we have had multiple rays of sunshine in the form of friends, family and coworkers to which I AM TRULY GRATEFUL FOR. My daughters Taylor, and Logan showed us all what they are capable of and I don’t know where I’d have been without them. If I started listing people by name with signs of thanks I’d undoubtedly end up omitting someone and would regret it forever – you know who you are – so please accept my thanks today.

It may be November 24th, 2011, the day we celebrate Thanksgiving where families, friends, and the homeless are together with warm hearts, caring hands and open minds. Tomorrow, when we are all working on the leftovers, and recovering from our recent bout with tryptophan I’d like each of you to know I am truly grateful for your support. Today and tomorrow – I will be forever grateful.

Peace,

Papa

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