Thanksgiving this years falls right on my son Kyle’s birthday. He was born 
November 26th and left us this past Mother’s Day. I have passed the 6 months mark of grieving. It has been a hard journey but as I wrote back at the end of May, we, the living, must keep moving forward. When Kyle was born on Thanksgiving day back in 1964, I remember having Thanksgiving dinner in the hospital. It was remarkable. He would tell his nieces and nephews that he was born on Thanksgiving Day so that is why he was called “Uncle Turkey”. It was the family joke and I think for awhile the little ones really thought his name was Turkey.
We are going to his grave this Thanksgiving morning and we will have brunch there and celebrate his birthday and thank him for the wonderful, funny and generous life he gave us. We are all so grateful he could enrich us with his presence. We miss him so much it is acutely painful and sad and life altering. The family feels as if we have have become eternal pallbearers for a large body of memories.
Yet, we go on with our daily lives understanding the fragility of life and its sudden behavior. We give great thanks for our relationships that support us and we become more forgiving for those who cannot. We learn to not assume anything and not to take our lives for granted or the essentials that truly make us happy and at peace. We can live without many conveniences but we cannot live without the kindness of strangers and the love shared with good friends. So on this Thanksgiving and every Thanksgiving, I give thanks to my Kyle who helped me on my journey. Who was my backup so many times, who made me laugh, who was oh so generous and a great teacher. We are all blessed more than we realize and on this special Thanksgiving Day, I thank the master control, supreme intelligence, God, whomever for showering me with so much good and so much love and support.
Thank you for your loving comments and kindness. They mean a great deal and I appreciate you taking the time to send them my way.
Much love,
What a beautiful tribute and healing meal for all. Thank you for sharing your walk along this journey with such grace and courage.
Sending your love and hugs through this holiday season. May your large body of memories continue to carry you along the path.
Namaste’, Karen
Thank you, Gail for sharing your heart and your stories of your son. Grief is an amazing teacher and you are teaching us so much through your experience. God bless you and Uncle Turkey (Kyle) sending you both Light on the anniversary of his birth! Namaste
Warm thoughts Gail for you and yours.
My heart felt your words and tribute …
It reminds me to focus on relationships during this holiday season.
I am grateful for you and all you share to others.
I am thankful for my life.
Happy Thanksgiving.
So sorry for your loss. Wishing your and your family a blessed Thanksgiving Day filled with gratitude and the joy that Kyle brought into your lives. Let the wonderful memories of him enrich your day.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving Day together with your Beloved Kyle’s (aka Uncle Turkey!) spirit on his birthday. May love and beautiful memories fill your hearts and lift your spirits. Sending you lots of love and hugs.