The Ghost of Thanksgiving Past

Sure, I did post a review today. But I wanted to write another post, because to me? Part of book blogging is getting to know people and sharing a little bit of our lives with each other.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, but for my family it will always have  a super special meaning. And for that, I will have to start at the beginning of my story.

Seven and a half years ago (in June 2004) I married my husband. It was a beautiful day in the shadow of Pikes Peak. (Ok; it rained all day, but it was still beautiful. Because I got to wear a dress like a princess, eat cupcakes, and … oh yeah! I got married!)

Although I suppose this has little to do with being thankful. Except for that I am of course thankful for my husband, and that I had a cool cupcake cake before the cupcake craze even started. (I like to think I am a trend setter!)

One year later, as we were getting ready to celebrate our first wedding anniversary, I got a phone call that would change everything. My Dad (who had been sick with pneumonia for the previous two weeks) was in the hospital It turns out? His Pneumonia was actually a massive heart attack and his heart was barely functioning.

I called my husband at work, we packed up the car and drove overnight to make it to our hometown. I ended up spending nearly a month in Nebraska, while the hubs had to head back to Colorado for work. My Dad ended up with an LVAD (think Denny on Grey’s Anatomy) and a spot on a Transplant waiting list.

Fast Forward to November 23, 2005. (Thanksgiving was the 24th that year too…) I was back in Nebraska visiting my family for Thanksgiving. (My husband had left his job in Colorado and was also in Lincoln going to  Truck Driver Training)

I was sitting at my parents house that morning, playing Sims 2 on their super cool computer. (My computer wasn’t strong enough.) And my Dad was nagging me to get off the computer so we could make a last minute trip to the store – he needed something to make his famous stuffing.

The house phone rang, but he didn’t recognize the phone number so he didn’t answer. Then his cell phone rang, again he didn’t answer. The house phone rang again and he picked up, it was the transplant coordinator at the hospital. They had a heart for him, and he needed to be at the hospital in an hour for prep work. We tried to call my mom, she didn’t answer her work phone or her cell phone. My dad took off to her office to pick her up.

I headed to my sister’s high school (the kids were still in school that day – which I still find crazy.) Then off to the hospital. We beat my parents – my mom was in a meeting and couldn’t be reached! (Something he still teases her about.)

Then we were in for a whirl wind ride. My Dad got his new heart late that night (11pm or so) and I spent the night in the waiting room, unable to sleep. I remember watching the early morning news reporting that Nick and Jessica (Lachey/Simpson) split up. I remember being so sad and thankful for a family in Arkansas that lost their 21 year old son that day. But because of their unselfish sacrifice, my Dad has had a wonderful six years. He’s been able to meet and get to know my daughter, to watch my younger sister grow up.

For me, this whole experience has cast a whole new light on how wonderful a holiday Thanksgiving really is. Thank you for taking the time to read this, I know it was long! But I wanted to share my fabulous story with you!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Bookish Friends!