Thanksgiving Day 2009 in Aruba

On this Thanksgiving Day, which we are spending in beautiful, sunny, warm Aruba, I give thanks for life itself.

Herb is not feeling well these days and hasn't for the last several difficult days spent in bed in our hotel room. At noon today, the doctor associated with the hotel will "pass by," as the doctor puts it, to look in on Herb. A doctor who offices at the hospital who is willing to pass by at noon on a weekday is a blessing in and of itself, and for that, I am also thankful.

Herb's had cold and flu-like symptoms, and it may be as simple as just that. But we are being cautious and want to ascertain that it's not pneumonia, since Herb is experiencing congestion in his lungs and difficulty breathing. A heart attack five years ago while traveling on a family reunion trip, followed by a quadruple bypass surgery upon a quick return to Colorado, lurks in our minds. I have some experience companioning my husband with doctors, hospitals and hotel rooms in a distant place.

As we have been known to say on occasion, aging is not for the timid. We have our share of aches and pains and symptoms to fill our medicine chest to overflowing with prescription drugs and over-the-counter palliatives. For these I am also thankful beyond measure that I am blessed to live in a first-world country and to be blessed with adequate income, health insurance, and education to be able to partake, I hope appropriately, of the medical system in the United States.

I am mindful of those in this world who have far less than Herb and I and our family have. Every moment of our lives has been filled with grace and gift from God. I want to remain in a posture of thanksgiving and prayer and resist the temptation to give in to forboding and fear that does, regrettably, accrue with age and the experience of loss of those who have gone before us.

Blessings to one and all.