What I was Most Thankful for This Thanksgiving

Yes, Thanksgiving is over. So, why am I still writing about it? Well, I didn't jump on the bandwagon with all my other fellow AC contributors who wrote their well thought out sentiments about what they were truly thankful for this Thanksgiving. And, they were I might add, all very great sentiments and truly worthwhile reading. I just could not let this time of thanksgiving go by without saying for what it is I am truly thankful. This is just my after thoughts about what Thanksgiving was all about for me this year.

As some of you may know, my son is joining the Marines, as soon as he graduates high school this year. It is something of which I am very proud of and also something, as a mother, I worry about. I was truly thankful to have both of my children with me as we traveled to go visit my father, who is about to celebrate his eightieth birthday in a few weeks. I don't often get to make this trip, with school, work, the children's acitivities, and just the expense of travel nowadays.

My father, widowed five years ago, lives alone after spending most of his life working as a farm laborer. We were never rich, but, we were all well fed, had a roof over our heads, and all graduated high school. And, I might add, were never short one little bit on love. It was in plenteous supply in our household. I am not saying we were perfect. We had the same problems most families do. And, my brothers and me sometimes fought like cats and dogs, just like in all families...

What is so special about the accomplishment of raising five children to adulthood, one might ask. Even under normal circumstances, it is a daunting task. My father made a statement to my son while we were there that I thought quite noteworthy. He said, "Son, how would you like to start off in life with three months education, then have five children, raise them, put a roof over their head, and provide them with an education..." He was from the old school, had a hard life. Did not have the luxury of attending school. He worked very hard all his life, overcame abuse and poverty as a child and raised us all real good!

I am thankful for a father, who worked so hard, overcame so many adversities, to give us the best life he could.

He prepared us a feast! It was quite delicious. A family, that seldom gets together at all, was all there, at my father's house. I think it was very fitting that all three of my brothers, my sister, myself, and our families were there to share this Thanksgiving with him. I hope we were able to relay to him in some small way how truly grateful we all are to have such a wonderful father!