I'm having a hard time coming up with something I want to talk about this week. Maybe it's the boring work week or the light at the end of the tunnel for school, but I just can't think of anything to say. So, I decided to write about a few things I'm thankful for. I know it's not Thanksgiving, but shouldn't we be thankful year round? First, I'm thankful for my husband. Not only has he been putting up with my constant yammering on about school, but has been DVR'ing all my favorite shows so that I can catch up with them when I won't have to worry about homework. Thanks Scott!
I'm thankful I have the resources to go to school. Car, money, time, family and friend support, and a lifestyle that pretty much lets me do as I please. Yeah, that job thing gets in the way, but I'm still thankful for that too because without it, my life would be very different. It's not the worse job I've ever had, but I am ready to give it up. That will have to wait until I'm done with school, however.
My health. We all know how much more difficult life can or could be without having good health. My home (even thought we are looking for a new house). To have a secure place of comfort is priceless. Material possessions. Let's face it, we all like our stuff. And the freedom to enjoy all these things.
I guess what is spurring this, is my artifact. I found in my father's scrapbook from his early twenties a personal accounting of his reaction to V-E Day in Europe. But, he wasn't in Europe, he was driving a 6X6 truck on the Ledo-Burma Road. I never knew this letter existed until last weekend when I was going through the scrapbook. I knew of the scrapbook, but never had the opportunity to go through it until after his death in October of 2002. Even then, all I could stand to find were his Honorary Discharge papers to prove he was eligible for a Military funeral.
Time has a way of tempering grief and I was able to really look through the book. At the end, in a well used manila folder was the letter. In reading it, I realized that I have so much to attribute to not only my father, but to all the Veterans of our Country. Crossing the Burma road was perilous, dirty, stressful, uncomfortable, and lonely. His description of sleeping in the cramped cab of the truck, with his knees doubled up, and comparing it to a feather bed makes me really thankful that I have a comfy bed, with plenty of quilts and blankets and climate controlled perfection. I don't think I could have survived what he went through, not just on the Ledo-Burma Road, but WWII in general. Which makes me very thankful for the life he gave me.
Blog for the week of April 21st.
2 comments:
Nicky,
I too am thankful every day to God for my life. I can't imagine what life could be like any other way!
How awesome for you to find that letter!
I decided to change my artifact.
I have a journal that I gave to my grandmother about 10 years ago to write all that she could about her life! In it she wrote some interesting things about the "Great Depression" It's a time that I know virtually nothing about and I am going to do my paper on that! I am so thankful to have that journal. It's a little piece of my granfmother that is all of mine. Sitting down to read it after she gave it back to me was like sitting down and getting to know someone for the first time. When you are growing up you never think of your grandparents being at an age I am right now becasue they have always been grandpa, and grandma. I cherish that journal! I have it in a safe place and to me it's a priceless treasure, as I am sure your granfather's scrapbook is to you!
Thanks Stephanie! I was thrilled to find it because dad never really shared his war experience with us. I'm sure that it was awful for him and this letter is cleaned up because he knew that someone would eventually find it. Especially in a scrapbook. As scrappers, you and I both know how important it is to journal, and now I know and understand why. I've always hated my handwritting, but I can see where someone in the family will be thrilled to find something left by my hand. I will do more of it in my scrapbooks instead of typing everything on the computer and printing it out. I'm glad you have your Grandmother's journal, I bet it is a great read!
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