I’m writing this on the first Thanksgiving in 29 years that I am not celebrating with my wife, Jenn. For those who are unaware, Jenn experienced what medical folks refer to as a “cardiac event” on 11/14 and has not yet regained consciousness. My intention was to be with her at the hospital today, but limited shuttle service and increased rideshare pricing makes that impractical. And so I spent time today feeling like I have somehow failed when the reality is that I’m trying my very best to deal with a very complicated situation.
After melting down for a bit, I took a deep breath and realized that while we won’t be spending Thanksgiving together, we have a lot to be very thankful for and isn’t that kind of the point of Thanksgiving anyway? Over the past two weeks, we’ve had an incredible outpouring of generosity, love, and support from family, friends, people I never knew even considered me a friend, folks I haven’t heard from in years, co-workers, even random strangers that have just taken a second to do a small thing which, at times like this, actually matters more than they will ever know. We are fortunate enough to be the recipients of an awesome Meal Train which has continued to help with on-going meals and donations, extremely helpful as we try and navigate this crisis day by day.
While I may be sad that Jenn and I are not spending our 29TH Thanksgiving together, I’m extremely grateful for the previous 28. I’m also very grateful for the medical staff who are providing Jenn with exceptional care, especially since I realize they’re not going to get to spend Thanksgiving with their friends or loved ones either. I’m grateful for all those who have reached out in whatever way they have. And of course I’m grateful to anyone who takes the time to read these words and perhaps reflect a bit on all the things for which they might be thankful today.
I’m not sure what I’m going to do for the rest of the day. I’ve gotten lots of kind offers to spend Thanksgiving with people and while I do love turkey and a good piece of pie, I also have a mountain of laundry that has to get done, mail and Emails that need to get sorted, bills that need to get paid, and puppies that are confused and just want attention. I know Jenn is in great hands right now, so while many have suggested that I shouldn’t be alone today for the holiday, I think it’s maybe not as bad as it felt earlier. After all, rather than being sad, maybe it’s OK for me to just be grateful that I can have a day of down time, a day away from the hospital, a day to melt down a little, regroup, and prepare for the days ahead.
I want to close this entry by wishing you a very happy Thanksgiving. Whether you spend it with friends, family, strangers, or even just yourself, I hope that you are able to take a moment to reflect on all the things for which you are grateful. And if you are enjoying some turkey or a piece of pie (especially pumpkin pie), think of us and just know that I am very grateful for the thought.
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