Happy Thanksgiving

Surviving a long difficult winter, the Pilgrims - what was left of them anyway - had a feast. 101 men, women and children had arrived to the New World in December, during a winter so harsh that it had killed fully half of them  - only 53 remained.   Despite their grief, in the spring, those who had lost children or parents still planted crops with hopes for their future.  They got advice from Native Americans, who showed them how to use fish as fertilizer.  And, when harvest season came around, they did what Americans do so well, and decided to have a feast. 90 Wampanoag Indians came, bringing deer, fish and other goodies, and the Pilgrims harvested their crops, and together they ate and sang and joined together in celebration of life.  And, I like to think somebody dredged up a pie somewhere.

Or two.

They didn't sit around wailing for all they had lost, complaining about the hardships they had endured.  They took time to gave thanks for what they had and planned to better in the future.  This Thanksgiving holiday, declared by none other than Abraham Lincoln in the middle of the Civil War, is about being grateful in spite of adversity, enjoying and sharing your bounty with the friends who share life with you, and the human ability to look ahead to what is better.

In a way, Thanksgiving is a holiday tailor-made for the cancer patient.  The year was full of struggles and hard times, and not just for me.  Many of us can no longer do the things we used to find easy.  Some have already suffered losses, and some wonder if this is their last Thanksgiving.  Others have completed treatment but now fear cancer will rear its ugly head sometime on the road ahead.   But, here we all are, on a day dedicated to Thanksgiving.  We can take a step back and remind ourselves of all we have still, while enjoying a delicious meal with family and friends and with hope bright for the future, however long that may be.

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody.  Save me a piece of pie.