My son is on a plane as I write, heading home for Thanksgiving. He is a freshman at the University of Redlands, and he is loving every moment of it. Sadly, my daughter won’t be home this year, she is in Maine with family, and we will miss her. She is doing a postgrad program in photography at BU. I will also see many of my “other children”, friends of my children and students both past and present. I am looking forward to seeing them all, but I am also reflecting on Tracy Fisher, my student and blogger who passed away so suddenly just a month ago.
I find it so difficult to put into words my sympathy for her family and friends, partly because it is so frightening for me, as a parent, to even grasp what has happened. I am both terrified for my children, and thankful they are safe. It is not conducive to my peace of mind to realize how fragile they are in this world, how quickly we lose the ones who mean so much to us. What could one possibly say to Laurel and Mark, Ethan and Jacob to comfort them? I don’t know, but they are in my heart and mind this holiday, and every day.
What am I thankful for? In short, my wonderful, full life. I would not change a thing (well, maybe I would get a new spine from the body parts store). I am truly the luckiest person on earth, and I do not take it for granted. My dad always told me not to underestimate the part that luck plays in our lives, in our circumstances. He often talked about how lucky he was, and I know many people who would say our lives are not luck, they are what we make of them through our hard work and effort. Of course, that plays a part. But I know there are many deserving people who have not been as fortunate in life, and so I realize the good fortune that is mine. One of my favorite movies of all time is, of course, It’s a Wonderful Life. When I think about my husband, my family, my friends, my experiences, and the love I have in my life, I truly do feel like “the richest guy (gal) in town”.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
