I have a lot to be thankful for every day.

[TerryW]

  I met a young lady the other day while traveling.  Shortly after we started talking and she told me she was in Nashville because she tried to kill herself half a dozen or so times.  While I looked at her in disbelief she then told me she had been abused in many different ways by multiple family members.  I'm sure I had a priceless look on my face when she told me I hadn't blinked in a few minutes.  She had a very outgoing(obviously), beautiful personality and had a new, wonderful outlook on life.  I really didn't know what to say except I was really glad she hadn't been successful in killing herself and that the privilege was all mine in getting to meet her.  She said she had been in therapy multiple times but it wasn't until she came to Nashville to a faith based therapy that found her own healing through Christ.  It is a small reminder to me that I have such wonderful family and friends.  I can't begin to imagine not having the safety and comfort of my father and mother as a child and through my young adult life.  

  I decided to give to her personally through the home and to give to the home where she stays this year.  I have a lot to be thankful for and she really made a difference in my life.

 

Tw

 

 

 

[bersaguy]

That is very nice of you to help with her home and a very touching story for sure. I wish her all the best and a great future is in her life....... :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[RobertNashville]

I think all of us, and I really do mean ALL of us have much to be thankful for; even if we are going though difficult times...even if things seem impossible. This has been a hard year for me and one I'm very glad to see coming to a close yet I am blessed and I know that I am.

 

We live in what is still the greatest country the world has ever known; it may still yet return to its full greatness and potential but even if it doesn't there is no place I would rather live (and I've been in many, many countries over the years)...I have good friends...friends I can truly count on and as Clarance wrote George Baily on the inside cover of the Mark Twain book that showed up in the money basket; "No man is a failure who has friends".

 

I'm spending Thanksgiving with some of those friends in Knoxville this year...the last time I haven't been "home" with family on Thanksgiving was 1980; that year I was stationed at Bangor Submarine Base (Washington) and my wife and I decided not to make the trip back to Ohio that year.  Other than that and a couple of overseas deployments during the late 70's I've always been home for Thanksgiving. This year, my Mom is gone now (my dad passed i 2001) so this Thanksgiving is "different".

 

I hope every fellow TGO member has a great Thanksgiving.

 

.

Edited November 27, 2013 by RobertNashville

[DaveS]

I have to agree with everything that has been said. I agree with Robert whole heartedly (must be contagious) and he speaks wisely when he says we "all have something to be thankful for". I'm going through tough times right now and sometimes I feel pretty down about things. Just today, I went to Kroger to get some coffee creamer and held the door for a Soldier in a wheel chair and he had no legs. It made me thank about how bad some of my days goes and it isn't crap compared to this Soldier's day. I think back on my military career (Vietnam Era) and feel blessed that I'm able to get up and walk (although very painful at times). So in my own mind, I need to realize that everytime DaveS has a hard time with something, or feels that I'm at the end of my rope, there is always someone worse off than I, and I should be thankful for what I do have. I might just go volunteer at the "Manna Café" tomorrow and help feed the homeless. I guess that's the least I can do.

 

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Dave

[ncomarc]

I have to agree with everything that has been said. I agree with Robert whole heartedly (must be contagious) and he speaks wisely when he says we "all have something to be thankful for". I'm going through tough times right now and sometimes I feel pretty down about things. Just today, I went to Kroger to get some coffee creamer and held the door for a Soldier in a wheel chair and he had no legs. It made me thank about how bad some of my days goes and it isn't crap compared to this Soldier's day. I think back on my military career (Vietnam Era) and feel blessed that I'm able to get up and walk (although very painful at times). So in my own mind, I need to realize that everytime DaveS has a hard time with something, or feels that I'm at the end of my rope, there is always someone worse off than I, and I should be thankful for what I do have. I might just go volunteer at the "Manna Café" tomorrow and help feed the homeless. I guess that's the least I can do.
 
Happy Thanksgivings
 
Dave

I fell ya, be it military, traveling or volunteering sometimes all it takes is to be out of our comfort zone and see what some people have to deal with to snap out of feeling in the dumps. One of my sons classmate just had their family's house burn down about two weeks ago and lost everything. If the families healthy then everything else can be worked out. Hope the tough times passes soon.

[TrickyNicky]

Much to be thankfull here and I am reminded of this every day.

I'd like to share a story with you all that involved me this afternoon. I work in east Nashville. Not the "cool part" of town with all the hipsters either. Today one of our local homeless came into my shop. Sort of. He made it to the door and could go no further. Seeing him in our doorway, hunched over and clutching himself, I knew something was wrong. As I approached, asking repeatedly if he was ok or if he needed help, he said "I think I'm having a heart attack!"

Now I'd like mention I know this man. He's a local homeless who I have removed repeatedly from our store. Honestly he is an aggressive pan handler and kind of an all around ass. Had he said about anything else, its likely I would have told him to tell his story walking. My father has lived and suffered with numerous cardial issues for over a decade. There were a few times over the past years when I was living in CA that I wondered if I would ever see him again.

As I got closer to the homeless man, he collapsed quite literally in my arms. Guiding him gently to the floor, I instructed one of my employees to call 911. After making sure he was breathing I also dialed our local low cost/no cost clinic as they are across the street. One of their doctors and two nurses were at my door giving care before we were even through to a 911 operator. The nurse was familiar with the man and started talking to him by name as the doctor did whatever it is doctor do, and the man responded by answering all questions the same way "I want to die, god let me die". The nurse told him that he wasn't going to die today, god had other plans for him. Upon hearing that I piped in "that's right, if god wanted you dead today he would have left you out in the fucking alley, but he brought you here to me instead". I'd like to point out that I am not a very religious or spiritual man, I would say that I'm a non-believer except I accept my own ignorance to the matter and choose instead to just wait and see. I don't know why I said what I said, I couldn't help it, it just came out.


The ambulance arrived and got him loaded up. Before they left they asked me if I could throw away the empty bottle of Popov, or whatever cheap vodka it was. Oddly enough it was a mirror twin to the empty bottle I found in the parking lot this morning. I've spent the rest of the day wondering if he really did have a heart attack, or just drunk and cold. I'm guessing the former, this guy has ZERO problem getting arrested to get fed and warm.


I am thankfull this year. For far too many things to even think about listing. I would like to thank though the Red Cross tonight. My first aid training completely "took over" once I heard the words "heart attack" and saw him start to go down. I did not have to administer first aid, however I wonder if I would have handled things as well without walking through the pre and post care steps in class. Thank you Red Cross.

Everyone stay safe tonight. Hug your family's a little tighter, and to quote my favorite Tesla tune "Thank you lord for thinking about me, I'm alive and doing fine"

[TerryW]

  Last year my wife was breast diagnosed with cancer and it really didn't seem very fair to me.  Here she is early forties, eats well, exercises all the time and is a very devote Christian woman.  I hosted a pity party for myself almost every day.  On the other hand my wife is a very positive uplifting spirit but I was having trouble getting my spirits up.  Then on the very first day of Chemo I quickly realized, we don't have it so bad. Our chemo treatments were 6 hours and we watched people suffer through really bad bad chemo treatments.  That was when I knew, "It really could be worse".  I've always hated when someone says, It could be worse be cause that totally lacks any empathy.  My wife went through 3 surgeries, 6 chemo treatments and 33 radiation treatments and never complained once.

  I am very thankful for my wife, the strength the Lord gave us both, for all people in my life and last but not least to see my beautiful wife get better and better every day. 

 

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone here!