Thanksgiving 2012

2012 has been a year to remember for any number of reasons. In my life it has been a pretty good year. I know that suffering and deprivation continues in the world, and all of us of good conscience need to keep up the fight to raise awareness and take action where we can. Nonetheless, I can claim some very good fortune for myself and our family. I’m not one to seek explanations from unearthly forces or deities taking an interest in my life- quite the opposite. So when I give thanks it is more a feeling of understanding how fortunate I am, and recognizing that I should never take the good in my life for granted. As we all found out last month, when Hurricane Sandy came, good fortune can be a fleeting thing lost from us in an instant. So I am thankful, in my own way, for some wonderful events that took place in 2012. I’ll mention a few that are particularly meaningful to me.

January brought another grandchild into our life. Our daughter Emily and her husband Jake had a baby girl before the new year was two weeks old. Kaya joined her brother Ben in this great family and thus joined our extended family. Some six years earlier Ben came into the world in very hurried fashion and very early too. His birth was just fine for him, but made for a bit too much drama for his parents and the rest of us. All was well in the end for his grand entrance, but Kaya’s arrival was so different. She was full-term and she was peacefully delivered in a planned manner. Lee and I were there with Jake and Em as she went through a fairly mild labor. I was not permitted in the room for the actual birth (a decision I agreed with) - but Lee was there and got to see her last grandchild take her first breath. Even as I listened at the door, I could tell it was all a picture-perfect birth. Lee came out a few moments later with a look on her face I had rarely seen before. She was so entirely moved to have seen Kaya’s birth. The rest of the day was spent quietly with our youngest daughter, her family and the little girl they wanted so much. In the months since, Kaya has been a total delight. We’re very fortunate to be near all of our grandchildren and have so much contact with them. Kaya is truly the baby of the family and she seems to know it. She has the most contented, big smile and pleasant manner. Our family is our great treasure and we’re thankful for each of them.

There were some great, but challenging professional changes that took place for several of us in the family this year. After almost 15 years in my last job I made the choice to try something new. I was fortunate to get a great new job as a Regional Manager at Goodwill. I even surprised myself with this one. Given my age, I thought I’d likely just stay put where I was. But one of my goals this year was to expose myself to new things. I did, and I’m incredibly glad I did. Goodwill has been great so far. I’m happy in my new job, learning new things and coming to appreciate yet another outstanding agency with a mission to invest in human capital to make a better world. And, I’ve met some really remarkable people too. I like that. But just as I was finding myself with new challenges, both of our kids found new opportunities in their professional lives. Get this, while Emily was on maternity leave she got promoted to Director of Sales- an executive position in a large food distribution company. She went back to work after maternity leave and is doing great.  Shortly after Emily’s new development occurred, our older daughter Erin had a huge advancement in her profession. In a series of events, Erin got promoted to Supervisor, then to Director of the Victim Advocacy and Prevention Department of Lutheran Community Services. Erin weathered a tough summer of new duties and responsibilities with staff shortages and agency wide changes- but she came through like a champ and has now settled in to an incredibly important job directing Spokane’s program to assist and advocate for women who have been victimized, sexually assaulted or traumatized. Lee’s professional career involves more now too. She continues to direct an outstanding Child Care Center for Catholic Charities, but has also added consulting on a community-wide basis. I’m proud of this the family- but very thankful too. Each member of the family, including my two sons-in-law contributes their talents and their hearts to this family and their community in ways that are unique to each one of them. This is a family to be thankful for.

As think about the last year and the new things that have come my way, I’m feeling very grateful that I have a life that allows me to try new things, enjoy new activities and meet new people. I know it is not that way for everyone. Only this week I met a young man at work who is very special. I’d just gotten into work when I got a call from our Human Resources office. They were calling to see if one of my staff could give a tour to a blind man who wanted to learn about Goodwill. I told them I didn’t have anyone specially trained to work with the blind- but I’d be happy to assist him. The young man showed up right on time. He was waiting for me in our reception area. There I found a 26 year old African-American man who was totally blind and had severe hearing and speech problems. I introduced myself and he took my arm as I escorted him up to the second floor where we could talk. His speech was very difficult to understand. He patiently told me that he knows people can’t understand him very well and that if I was having trouble, I could just ask him to repeat himself. He didn’t want me to feel uncomfortable with his disability-what an incredibly gracious gesture on his part.

We spoke for about half an hour. I learned that he had sight and hearing until he was about 13 years old. He lost those abilities in an auto accident. I also learned that he wasn’t there to find out what Goodwill could do for him- he was there looking for a job. He asked that I give him a tour of our facility’s production area. He held my left arm with his right hand and held his cane in his left hand as I gave a blind man a sight-seeing tour. We stopped at several stations in the production area as I described what was happening at each spot. Although he has severe sensory and neurological issues, his intellect is keen, his body fit, and his determination was evident. He would touch some of the items and feel his way around the tote bins and production tables as he was trying to determine how he could do the work. He kept telling me that he does not let his problems ever stop him. He had a work history before moving back to our town and was proud that he is a hard worker. After the tour I filled out a Job Application for him and took him back to where the Special Mobility bus would pick him up. I told him I wanted to shake hands and he said he did too. If it is possible to physically feel the emotions of determination and courage (in the face of adversity)- I think I did in that handshake.

For all the ugly political rhetoric of this past year; with talk about “urban people” and “takers not makers” and the 47% who don’t take personal responsibility, it’s easy to feel cynical. Then I got meet this young man who has every reason to give up- but doesn’t. This young man wants to contribute in spite of the fact that it takes him three times the effort and trouble just to get somewhere, let alone do the work. He is a guy who makes me feel grateful for all I have and reminds me that the cynics who blame the poor for their troubles are just wrong. This young man could have been the poster child for all those who used race and disadvantage to create divisions in our country, or provide an excuse to promote the idea the privileged among us are the ones in need of favors. The young man I met wasn’t there to get “free stuff” or accept “gifts” from government or anyone else. He was there to find a place to work and contribute anything he could.

The professions some of us in this family have chosen are not the kind that will lead to great wealth- but we knew that at the time. And, I’m not opposed to those who have great financial success- provided their riches don’t blind them to the fact that many in our world will never have all the opportunities that some have, and that we are all in this society together. On this Thanksgiving, I’m personally grateful that my profession and my life gives me the chance to meet people who don’t have many breaks in life, yet still find ways to achieve and inspire. It’s a great feeling and revelation, and not one I would want to selfishly keep to myself. So I suggest and urge anyone who can, to find a way to get to know people who don't have all the advantages we have, and learn more about them. This isn’t about charity- it’s about making a connection with people we normally wouldn’t connect with. If we can all learn to respect the value of all people- charity will take care of itself.

My best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving to all. Thanks for looking in.