When my mother was still living, she loved Christmas, because she loved having her family all together. Of course, when my 3 older brothers were married, there were their in-laws, whom they had to think of also, not to mention their own family’s Christmas, so needless to say, there was friction at this time of year. Christmas turned out okay every year, for my mother, but Thanksgiving was one of the holidays, which I wanted to celebrate, but living in north central Wisconsin in the 1960's & 1970's , deer season took precedence over everything, much like football, especially, the Packers!
Every year the hunters would be out all day hunting, while my brother Jerry’s wife, Laurie, would be busy getting the meal ready, sometimes with the help with others, who did not go deer hunting. She always made sure there would be plenty of food, for everyone and usually went overboard, so there would be a lot left over.
The hunters would come home after dusk, to have the Thanksgiving meal. Watching all these movies about the families getting together and celebrating the holidays, with the big meals and all the relation together made me yearn for something similar.
Here, the Thanksgiving meal was rushed and it really wasn't like I had always hoped. I had always hoped we could sit down to a meal, in the early afternoon, going around the table and saying what we were thankful for, before eating and being able to visit with each other most of the day. Of course, in Wisconsin, Football, especially the Packers, & deer hunting took precedence over everything else, so visiting, was not easy.
By time the meal was over and the clean up done, everyone was too tired and some of us had to drive home, in the dark, risking hitting a deer. Usually I would stay over night and go back, in the morning, since the one highway I traveled not only had a lot of hunting & Thanksgiving traffic on, but was an area, where a lot of deer cross the road and you either risked hitting a deer or crashing into another car. The bright lights coming at you all the time did not help either.
As we got older, we all went our separate ways. I had always wanted to have a nice Thanksgiving dinner, not so much for the food, because I don't really eat much, at one time, but just being together with the rest of the family, even though our family wasn't very big or very close. Unlike others, we didn't get together with Aunts and Uncles or cousins, just the immediate family, our parents, my brothers and sister and the grand children. There weren't many grandchildren in our family, because there weren’t that many of us and not all of us had children
We just were not that type of family, because we lived in the country, on a farm, in north central Wisconsin and the main attraction at that time is and seems like it will always be Deer Season! Deer Season, football and of course the beloved Packers takes precedence over everything! It was not easy to visit with everyone, because many of them are hunting during the day and we didn’t eat until about 5:30-6:00, after the hunters got home from hunting.
They come home eat quick, then sit down, relax and watch football, usually, if there is a game on. Sometimes we would watch a movie together, which I liked. Sometimes I was able to stay overnight and go home, in the morning, which was a lot better. The one year I left at night and ended up hitting 2 deer, on the way home, which set off both of my air bags! They didn't see any deer all season, but I managed to knock off 2 of them, on the way home, setting off both my air bags, which scared the crap out of me!
Well, anyway, since I have never had a Thanksgiving, which I had always envisioned, I want to just tell you a few of the things I am thankful for, especially on this Thanksgiving.
I am thankful that I am healthy and still able to do many things myself. I take pride in being able to take care of my apartment and do other things myself, even though I am unable to walk. When my parents bought the 3 wheel motorcycle, when I was young, it opened up a new world for me exploring many places daily. I took the chance of breaking down or something happening, but God always watched over me.
When I got my driver's license it opened up another new world, since now I could drive many places and even though I was disabled, at that time I could still walk with braces and crutches. It was still easy for me to get into and out of the car and could walk quite far, with my braces and crutches.
As I got older, I began losing strength and could no longer walk real far, so carried a manual wheel chair, in the trunk of my car. Any time I had to walk far, I would use the manual wheel chair or would go shopping, where they had motorized shopping carts. Soon I began stumbling quite a bit with the braces and crutches and rather than fall and hurt myself, especially my arms, I was able to get a power chair, which makes it even better, since I am living in town now, I can go to the store and actually go in the store, shop and bring my things home. I treasure being able to go get my own groceries and other needs and bring them home myself. I know someone would do it for me, but I want to do as much as I can, for myself, as long as I can.
There aren't too many places to shop here, in town, but there are enough for me. Now that I bought a different car and am able to drive it, I am no longer stranded here and am able to leave to go somewhere, maybe to church, in my home town or shopping. At least now I don't have to depend on someone to take me to a doctor's appointment either. When you don't have a vehicle, you need to depend on someone else, which I found out don't work the best for me, all the time. Some people depended on me to take them to appointments, but now that I needed someone, it was difficult to find someone.
I treasure being able to do so much on my own and yet be able to help others here and there. I don't have a lot of material things, but that isn't what I treasure or need. I just treasure being around people, doing things, for myself and being able to help others.
Here in the apartment building, most of us are either elderly or disabled, or both, so we pretty much help each other. This past summer the main State Highway, which went through downtown was upgraded, with new sewer, water, storm sewers and gas lines. They redid the road and while they were at it, they put in new sidewalks on both sides of the road. There never used to be sidewalks all the way to the shopping center so now there are, which makes it much easier for me, with my power chair. It makes it nice, to be able to take my dog for long walks.
I was heartbroken when my dear little puggle Brody, became sick and had to be put down, after 10 years of his life. It hurts so much to have pets and not enough money to get them fixed and their shots right away, to prevent some of these sicknesses. By chance I found my new little dog, Yoda, a rat terrier mix, from the shelter, who has brought me so much happiness, to fill a little of the loneliness, after my beloved Brody was called home.
I am happy for my neighbor, Roy, who needed some love, and companionship, in his life, so we share my little dog Yoda. He takes him for most of the day, while I am working on the computer and I have him overnight and take him for long walks, in the morning, which he loves. Yoda is making us both happy along with many of the other residents here.
I am thankful I am an American and able to be free, worship as I wish and able to do practically anything I want, within reason. Even though I don't have a lot of money or material things, I am content to be here, free and able to do what I want, without fear of being attacked and killed or driven from my home.
I pray for peace, in the middle east and hope the Syrians and others, being persecuted, by
terrorists find a safe home to live, where they are free to worship as they wish and able to open
and maintain a business, get a job and be able to love and take care of their families, sharing
their culture with us, here in America.
I have experience with the Hmong people, who helped the United States, in the Vietnam war,
whom were brought to the United States to be resettled, because they would be killed by the
enemy, if they stayed. There were a lot of people here, who did not welcome them, but many
more, like myself, who helped them adapt to the American culture and in return, they shared
their culture, festivals and food, with us.
Even though I am physically disabled, I still have my mind, am able to think and reason, unlike many here, who only listen to all the hate and intolerance and are not able to reason for themselves.
I pray that many of those here, in government, for once sit back and look at just what they are
projecting on to the people, who look to them for guidance. All they care about, is spreading
hate, ignorance, bigotry & intolerance.
I am thankful for the new friends I have here now, whom I meet, for lunch, everyday. It is nice to have friends, whom you can talk to, and are there to listen to you, even though usually there is nothing, they can do, some times they have ideas & suggestions.
I pray that the refugees are able to find many friends in the different countries in Europe, and in
the United States whom they can trust and talk to, who will help them transition into a new
culture and hopefully not lose their own. I welcome them to the United States, unlike those, here
who are spreading lies and fear, they do not represent the majority of us.
Even though I lost my nice van, in a crash, which was equipped to handle my disability, I accepted it, because I was able to pay off the loan on it, so now I have fewer expenses and fewer worries. For so many years, I tried to make it on my own, but it was just too much for me, so now I have it good and am able to live on the disability I am getting. I am not getting rich, but am able to survive. It is my hope that many in the war torn middle east, are able to find a home, where they can be free and be able to feel safe and find their American Dream. They have a tremendous amount to add to America, not only with their knowledge, but with their culture. After all, we are a melting pot of different cultures, each contributing their share to the American culture.