To my readers in Canada, I’d like to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Canadians have so much to be thankful for. Even the least fortunate in Canada have access to health care and other resources that people in other parts of the world probably don’t even dream of because they cant imagine such abundance.
I grew up in rural Alberta. We were poor or at least poor compared to most people. One winter we lived with my maternal grandmother in town because the little house in the country we had been renting had no insulation and no heat. It was that winter too that my father at the age of 32, attended his first year of technical school to train as a TV technician. For a time after that we lived in a house with no running water. My mom’s youngest sister was only a few years older than I was so I wore a lot of hand-me-downs.
Once Dad was employed as an apprentice things started to get better for us. It was a big deal when Mom and Dad were finally able to replace the wringer washer with a used top loading modern washing machine. Then it was an even bigger deal when we got a dryer!
I was 16 when we moved into a small single story three bedroom home. I only had to share a bedroom with my sister because our brother finally got his own bedroom.
I never, ever look back on those days with nostalgia or any kind of a wish to return to that time. We went without a lot of luxuries that are taken for granted now. But I do look back with thankfulness.
I am thankful that I grew up in a country that was at peace. I am thankful that while there were many times when there was a lack of money, there was never a lack of love.
Today, I am thankful for an amazing husband who is and has been my very best friend for almost 33 years. I am thankful for our three incredible adult children. I am thankful for our good health.
And I am thankful for the opportunity to share with all those who visit my blog.
Whether you are celebrating or not, I wish you all a wonderful day filled with the spirit of Aloha.
1 Comment
Kae
October 13, 2014 3:20 pmA lovely story, Sue, and one I’m sure many of us can say ‘been there, done that, and should I add ‘and got the hand me down t-shirt’. I used to love getting hand me down clothes and especially from one friend who was an only child and a few years older. I grew up in rural Manitoba. I think the hard times you wrote about is what made us what we are today – and that’s not wimps for sure. Happy Thanksgiving to you. ^^
Comments are closed.