This year, I wasn’t able to cook or have people over to my house, or even see any family or friends.  This year I spent Thanksgiving in Winnipeg with people I had never met.  Several months ago while in Vancouver, Glen and I met George who is on the Board of Directors for the ALS Society in BC.  George is a lovely person who happens to have a sister, May, who lives in Winnipeg.  May and her husband James decided to have the whole gang over to their house for a delicious Thanksgiving feast complete with turkey, ham, potatoes, veggies, and lots of pie!  May set a beautiful table including china that belonged to her mother who passed away from ALS.  Now the amazing part to this story is that May has never used the china, not once in the 20 years since her mother has passed.  But this thanksgiving she decided that having us over was a special enough occasion to bring it out.  I think I can speak for the whole team when I say that we felt both honoured and touched by May’s kindness.  We had the most relaxing evening of the trip as we got to know May and James’ family that night.  It reminded me of the true spirit of Thanksgiving and made me set a new goal for next year’s feast, which is to include someone (or someone’s) that may not have a place to go and offer them the hospitality that was shown to us. 

Yesterday we went to the only ALS house in North America.  The house offers people a place to go when they need more help in the advanced stages of the disease.  It’s a place where people can “live” instead of being in hospital or at home where they might not be able to receive all the care that they require (especially true of elderly patients).  It’s a wonderful place and I really do want to try and get more houses set up around the country, starting in BC of course!!  While there we met with Frank, who has been living there for about 2 years.  Frank is 82 and has lived in Canada for 37 years.  Frank is an extremely interesting man and will grab your attention and heart within minutes.  He told us lots of stories of his life and then he said something that really drives home the reality of this disease.  He said “I am 82 years old and have had a good life, but it has been too long….if I would have died 6 years ago then I wouldn’t have to live through ALS.”  If that doesn’t remind you to be thankful each and every day for all the little things we can do for ourselves and for our health, then I don’t know what does.  My visit with Frank and Don (who also stays at the house but is being treated for another motor neuron disease) was short but very sweet and I am most definitely thankful for meeting them. 

The ALS Society of Manitoba and the ALS house staff invited us to stay with them for supper that evening.  They made us wonderful Ukrainian food complete with more pie!!  We had to rush out the door so they could keep on schedule but we are so happy to have been able to stop by and meet everyone, it was a great afternoon indeed.

Later that night Glen and I got to meet up with our extended family in Winnipeg and reminisce about some old times.  I know that we both were very happy to see our niece and nephew along with their mom, as we don’t get to do that often.  Glen’s nieces and nephews all have a special place in his heart as he was there when they were born and has watched them grow up into outstanding adults.  Family is truly something to be thankful for and we should show them that we love them each and every day.  That’s the best advice that I receive on a daily basis from the ALS patients that we meet.

This holiday season I challenge all of you focus on what is important to you and see how you can nurture that even more.  To go out and be the best that you can and spread a little kindness where ever you can.  I hope that we can all feel truly thankful for the people in our lives each day of the year, and not just on one particular day.  I hope that we can live each day like it was Thanksgiving (mixed with a little Valentine’s Day!)!!

-jeannie

Last Modified : October 10th, 2007 Filed under : On The Road Navigate : Previous post / Next post