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November 22, 2005
The Thanks I Sometimes Forget To Remember
It is thanksgiving week here in the United States and because it is a time to give thanks I thought I’d mention some of the things I often forget to be thankful for:
I am thankful…
That my dad and mom happened to be at the same bus stop, on the same day, at the same time where they met and were inseparable until the day he died 45 years later.
That the gun jammed when I surprised the thief who was stealing the radio out of my car in Johannesburg. The gun was pointed at my chest and I saw him pulling the trigger countless times…to no avail. I would not have been here today had the gun not jammed.
That my dad passed his ‘happy’ genes on to me.
That my father did not suffer when he died. He was an athlete and would have hated being an invalid.
That my brother and sister shared my childhood with me.
That Nelson Mandela took my home country from apartheid to freedom without a bloody uprising or civil war.
That I was able to cuddle Naomi, hold Renee’s hand, be there for Victor and embrace Alex as they died after suffering from childhood cancer.
That CS Lewis wrote the Chronicles Of Narnia which inspired me to write.
That Mr. Clingman said, “Trevor, you can change the world, even though you are in Special Ed.”
That I can draw.
That I found a sense of humor lurking beneath the pain and humiliation of being the resident class idiot because of my dyslexia.
That I was too short to be decapitated by the wire across the path down which we were riding our soapbox cart late one night.
That Dr. Ozrin managed to remove the marble that I stuck up my own nose at Jabula nursery School.
That Staff Sergeant Reyneke managed to get rid of the grenade before it blew our heads off. (It was dropped by a petrified soldier right in front of us during basic training at the grenade practice range at Fourth Field Regiment.)
That I still get to sleep in my childhood room when I go home to visit.
That you are reading this blog.
That my grandmother was able to escape when her village was burned to the ground and many of her family members were slaughtered during the pogroms in Europe.
That my mum introduced me to the power of kindness.
That hot tea was invented.
That I managed to make it through the mine field of my youth which saw my best friend Howard die in the army, my other best friend John Hitchens die in a car accident, yet another friend Mark Campbell die of a drug overdose and my brother Steve survive a motorcycle accident which almost took his life.
And finally, thanks to the Founder…
That I have a mission in life. To use my talents to make the world a better place for children!
Posted by trevor at November 22, 2005 10:44 PM
Comments
I'm thankful for your compassion and that you share your life with those of us out here. I'm thankful that you inspire me to try a little harder to be a better more thoughtful person.
Posted by: Deb at November 23, 2005 08:18 AM
Trevor, I have been meaning to write you for the LONGEST time. Your site is nothing short of amazing, and it was so lovely to read your list of blessings just as I was recounting my own.
Wishing you a fantastic day of giving thanks... :)
Posted by: french toast girl at November 23, 2005 09:24 AM
What a coincidence, Trevor... I'm thankful that I'm reading this blog, too!
Posted by: Jess D'Zerts at November 23, 2005 10:17 AM
I am having a real hard time right now finding my holiday spirit, for this is a really sad time for me, but I'am thankful for a lot of things. I am thankful that my son (Tylor) got a chance to meet you, you brought him so much joy in the short time of life that he had left, and for that I am so thankful for. Thank you for making a difference in Tylors life, and thank you for all you have done for our family. God Bless You!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!
D.R
Posted by: denise rizor at November 23, 2005 11:08 AM
Thank you Trevor. Beuatiful. I'm in the process of making my own list. Thank you for that.
Happy Holidays!
Posted by: Alex at November 23, 2005 02:27 PM
I'm thankful for everything I would miss, and thanks for reminding me of that. Blessings to you!
Posted by: Nina at November 23, 2005 02:41 PM
Trevor-
I'm thankful that I found your blog. I always read it last of the 40 or 50 I read. This way, whenever I am done, I feel much better than when I started.
Chad
Posted by: Chad at November 23, 2005 05:02 PM
Hello trevor, my name is eduardo, I´m from Spain.
Congratulations!! your pictures are fantastic...
I saw a very beatiful and inspirated ilustration about marbles and hands...perhaps on september??
But, my navegator of internet don´t show me...it´s possible that you send me a Mail with the photo?? thanks for all...
Posted by: Norte at November 23, 2005 05:44 PM