Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Canadian Thanksgiving


























Canadian Thanksgiving was yesterday. Unlike American Thanksgiving, we have a nice breather before Christmas and I am happy that we don't have back to back Holidays like my Southern friends. We've still got warm sunny days and cool nights, and the leaves turning yellow, orange and red provide us with a perfect backdrop for Thanksgiving.  

I was fortunate to be able to climb into bed at night with my kids under one roof and of course, my daughter in law with her growing tummy. We spent quite a while chatting about baby names and what the baby would call the grandparents. We were blessed with another house guest; my Daughter in Law's grandmother arrived with the Montreal contingent on Thursday night and it was wonderful to have her grace our Thanksgiving.

We seemed to brew endless cups of Nespresso and made our way through apple pies and spicy pumpkin bread, 2 turkey dinners and a recycling bins worth of wine and beer, and ice cold non-alcoholic beer for our mother-to-be. My mother and sister joined us for dinner and we have much to be thankful for this year. Since I'm not a fan of New Years, I think of Thanksgiving as my place marker, a time to reflect and to think. Last Thanksgiving we were celebrating at my son's wedding reception and the 365 days since have brought both joy and sadness to both sides of the family.

We were able to give thanks this past weekend for a Stem Cell Donor that is preparing to donate to a person most beloved to us. I really want to PLEAD with you to get on the list and register as a bone marrow or stem cell donor. HERE is a link for US readers. You can find the registry for your Country on Google. I have signed up. It involves a brief questionaire after which you are sent an envelope containing 3 cotton swabs. You swab the inside of you mouth and return the envelope in the post. The cells are analysed and your info stored confidentially until when or if you are needed. My cousin's life was saved by a bone marrow transplant when she was only 5 years old. She is now 28. PLEASE, PLEASE, register yourself and have the opportunity to save a life.

8 comments:

  1. Good morning Chania! Thanks for dropping by earlier. I like Thanksgiving too this time of year, I am so used to it. sounds like you had a lovely time with family.
    I didn't realize how easy it was to get registered to be donor for stem cell transplant. I will take a look.
    By the way, I LOVE your new sectional!! I can feel the comfort from here! And your kitty is no fool!

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  2. I have willed my body to UBC for medical students to dissect and learn (just in case my organs are not able to be donated to someone needing them) but I did not know becoming a bone marrow/stem cell donor was so easy. I'll sign up today. Glad you had a happy Thanksgiving!

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  3. I am glad you are happy and content, I hope the next year goes well for you also.

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  4. Happy Thanksgiving sweetie. I have been on the bone marrow registry for over 10 years now and organized a drive at work that added another 33 people. Yes! Yes! Register everyone! Also please be an organ donor. I had my Mom an extra 20 years thanks to organ donation.
    <3

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  5. Hello Chania

    It sounds like you have a wonderful gathering and lots to be grateful for.
    Enjoy the sunshine today

    Helen xx

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  6. chania
    a warm post about all that is important x

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  7. Chania, it was a lovely Thanksgiving Weekend with even greater reason to have spent it with Family and Friends. Nice yours was such.

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  8. Lovely thoughts of your thankfulness and reflections on your past 365 days. Exciting time it must be to anticipate that "first grand!"

    I totally support your urging readers to register for stem cell registry. I also encourage Organ Tissue Donation, and to be proactive in stating your wishes. It truly can be a Gift of Life . . . I am registered to be a stem cell donor. I have also verbally communicated my organ and tissue donation wishes to my family members as well as having a written directive of my wishes with my physician, health system and on the back of my drivers license.

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I love to read each and every comment and are thrilled that you take the time to send one. Thank you so much. Chania