GWTA Thanksgiving Essays, November 2007

I want to personally thank all of you who took the time to share your thoughts of “Thankfulness”. Those in attendance at the breakfast meeting asked that all essays be posted so they could read them. At the meeting we read the “winning” essay, of course and the 2^nd place essay, if there were such a category. All were very good in their own way and the judges had an extremely hard time selecting the winning essay. When you have read them all, you will know why. The winner is announced after the author’s name. The selection committee was comprised of new chapter members, Chalmer & Joy (Pastor & Wife in Colorado), Bob & Mindy from California, Tim and another friend locally, Rocio -- and of course, I put my 2 cents worth in. Bless all of you and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Jan

A) Why I Give Thanks…

Not just on Thanksgiving but every day God lets me share with my husband of 42 years. Ralph was born with a few birth defects that he never let slow him down. Shortly after our children were born, Ralph had open-heart surgery. Soon he was back to work managing a lumberyard. Years later he had part of a lung removed, then a stroke, and another open-heart surgery, but he was soon back to work fulltime and golfing, trap shooting and playing cards. Nearly four years ago he “coded” with pneumonia and had has several close calls with pneumonia since which mandated early retirement. He doesn’t complain about being tied to an oxygen machine. When he could no longer walk downtown and back daily, I bought him a 49 cc scooter with matching helmet. With his oxygen backpack, he rides downtown for coffee and to the Senior Center where he works for Meet ‘n Eat at noon. He is determined to enjoy each day. Two months ago he golfed at five different courses in Tennessee with his son. Now he is awaiting another cardiac surgery in hopes he can go golfing again.

Several years ago I bought a Goldwing and discovered wonderful people who believe and demonstrate “Destination Friendship.” I drove the 75 miles east or the 180 miles west to participate in GWTA clubs. Both have made me a part of their motorcycle “family” and for that I also give thanks daily. Although being a fulltime caregiver has diminished the miles on my motorcycle, it hasn’t diminished my love for my country, my family, my friends and my career, nor the enjoyment of motorcycle riding and socializing. I want to wish everyone at Front Range Gold a wonderful Thanksgiving blessed by Him Above.

Linda L. Statz, Holyoke CO

 B)                       Motorcycle Angels

The GWTA Rally was being held in Sun Valley, ID and the Yellowstone fire was raging out of control at the same time, which made the smoke in our area pretty bad for one day but the wind changed direction and cleared it all out.  My husband Mel and I were attending, so when the Rally was over we decided to go through Yellowstone Park and headed for the south entrance. We were following a slow moving string of cars headed up hill and Mel evidently dozed off and veered off the road into very large gravel, which kept the bike pretty much upright but Mel went over the handlebars with one of the mirrors and I went off the side down the embankment.  I wasn't hurt but Mel was in shock and couldn't move his shoulder.  Traffic stopped but two motorcyclists coming in the opposite direction stopped and rushed over to see if they could help.

Our trailer was upside down so they righted it and there was no damage to it.  In the meantime a lovely couple had stopped and offered to take Mel and I to the Ranger station.  And one of the motorcyclists seeing our predicament offered to drive our bike down to the Ranger station even though he had never been on a Gold Wing, so of course we agreed and the other motorcyclist followed us.  When we arrived at the Ranger station, which was just a few miles it was evident that Mel needed attention - he was white as a sheet and looked as if he would pass out any minute.  So they laid him down and called an ambulance. When it arrived there wasn't room for me so Bob on our bike and Jim on his Yamaha offered to follow the ambulance to the hospital in Jackson Hole with me riding behind Jim on his Yamaha for a hundred miles. After arriving at the hospital-and believe me a Yamaha for a hundred miles is not a Gold wing, but I was very thankful for the ride. Mel was taken to the ER, so I offered to take Jim and Bob to dinner; we were within walking distance of downtown, which was packed, as it was The 4th of July. So after a really good meal, we went back to the hospital. 

There were three teenagers, two girls and a boy standing there, their car had been run off the road rolled down an embankment and totaled.  One of the girls went in the ER and was we learned later had a broken collarbone but that was the extent of their injuries. After the injured ones were released we were wondering where to spend the night as every room in the town was taken, and a nurse came by and informed us there was a hostel about 5 miles down the road and there was a shuttle that could take us there.  Mel had suffered a broken collar bone and several badly bruised ribs.  So we all took the shuttle to the hostel with our two motorcyclists following us.  After seeing us taken care of they departed refusing any remuneration and going back to Yellowstone Park where they were camping.  We all found rooms on the 4th floor and I put Mel to bed immediately as he was so sedated he hardly knew daylight from dark.  I was so worried about how we were going to get the bike back to Boulder I didn't sleep a wink all night.  The next morning I walked out on the deck and the three teenagers were there with an older man.  I told him of my situation and couldn't believe my ears when he said he was a motorcyclist and owned a BMW.  He had driven his car from Ft. Collins that night to pick up the kids so he said if I would drive his car and take the kids back to Ft. Collins, he would take our bike back for us.  What a relief!  Of course I agreed, so after he had slept most of the day, we left that evening with Mel in the front seat of the car and the kids in the back and Mel telling me how to drive till the kids told him to shut up which he did after falling asleep.  We had to stop several times for coffee and to gas up.  We arrived in Ft. Collins about daylight and after dropping the kids off, the father told us to drive over to his girlfriend's house where she came out and took over the driving up to our house with him following on our bike which’ he parked in our drive.  He refused any money, wouldn't even stop for breakfast, got in his car and told us goodbye.  This is why we love our motorcycle angels!!!

Submitted by Frances Wyrick

C) Thanksgiving

 To most people the word “Thanksgiving” immediately brings to mind the November holiday. I give thanks for my life shared with my spouse, Dan. His humorous spirit is truly a joy. He continues to amaze me. Foremost, I’m grateful for God’s grace in forgiving me.  He loves us. This is the most incredible truth and my heart responds with thankfulness. I’ve been blessed with good health, a good job, a place to live, enough food on the table, and a shiny red motorcycle!  Thanks, Dan!  Things are important but relationships are better still. For this, Dan & I are grateful to have discovered Destination Friendship, Front Range Gold.  I treasure many friendships and hope they’ll remain for many years.  Thank you, Jan for setting up this contest.

 Kathleen Barker aka Biker Babe who lives on Baker!

[Dan sent this in with a delightful script and rainbow colors. Sorry I had to condense and change for this printing.]

D) what i am thankful for......i am thankful for not being born a "turkey". being born an american gives me lots for freedoms lots of other people don't have...i am thankful for a second chance at love!  being able to share life with Kathy is a great adventure in great life shared by  2 people who can now be happy!  thankful of the many new friends from our goldwing club,  being able to share new adventures with them is exciting.  they are all great people and fun  to be with.  I am probably the luckiest guy in the club!!!   thank you are for your friendship., it is precious.    dan b

Jan.....here is another "to be thankful for"      thankful for my senses!   thankful for my sense of smell-to be able to smell the flowers and the turkey, the sense to hear all the kind words we should be saying about each other each day, the sense of sight-to be able to see beauty about many things each day i am alive. the sense but most important the sense of feelings-to feel the love each day i receive from friends but mainly from Kathy ( my partner),,,lasty the sense to come out of the rain when i don't have a rain jacket on  ha ha ha dan b

E) I’m Thankful.

For the all powerful, all knowing, loving being I call God who cares for us so we need not worry about things so much.

For all my experiences (good and bad); they have brought me this far.

For all who ever loved me and those who still do; they help me see myself clearly even when I’d rather not. And for those who let me love them, through them I can see the best in all of us.

But there is one special thing I’m thankful for, the ability to help someone smile. When I worked in an office the task I loved most was taking complaint calls. I loved turning unhappy customers into happy ones. Later, as a clown at the hospital, seeing a smile grow slowly on a patient’s face when pain had been there before is a blessing I cannot measure. Sometimes in the supermarket or in the mall, I see someone looking sad and I give them a smile. Most times the person smiles back looking surprised. Such a little thing, such a huge blessing in return.

I’m Thankful. Barb Miller

F) WINDOWS & DOORS

The WINDOWS in the title of this piece are my memories, each a framed picture in my mind. Most are pictures I’d proudly display on the walls of my home, but it isn’t necessary. Each window is etched in my heart and that is more than enough. The DOORS are my future. I pray God will help me choose the right doors to enter into and move me beyond the doors I should not go through. However, it is the windows (my memories) I speak of at this time.

As a child, I was surrounded by loving family. At Thanksgiving my grandparent’s home pulsed with joy, hugs, love, a warm fire burning and incredible food! Everyone cooked. Everyone cleaned up. Some took naps. We kids ran outside to play in the cold air, jumping in piles of leaves and then running to build a fort in a nearby pine grove. We were all fuller and rounder at day’s end; rounder because of food; fuller because of love, togetherness and tradition. We repeated this day of Thanksgiving every year as if our very lives depended upon it! I personally did this until I was in my twenties. And were it possible, I’d run straight back to that pine grove this very Thanksgiving.

It was a time of incredible happiness in my life. It went on year after year for what seemed would be endless. But now my family is scattered and tossed across the country. I have new Thanksgiving traditions with other people in the mix; new generations of children who have their own children have joined in building these traditions. Some of my loved ones are with God now, but always in my heart. I may be fractured by distance from some loved ones, but my memories will live on until my last breath. It is wonderful to have a special holiday to thank God for my memories, my life and those I love. And when it is my time to leave this earth I know God will keep watch over my windows and He’ll close the last door for me as I walk through to be with Him.

Thank you God for being by my side in all things

Thank you God for being with my loved ones in all things

Fay Hansen THIS WAS THE WINNING ESSAY.

G) THANKSGIVING THOUGHTS                           2007

WHEN EACH OF US THINKS OF THE WORD “THANKSGIVING” IT WILL MEAN SOMETHING SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT AND ALIKE FOR ALL.  THE HOLIDAY OF THANKSGIVING WAS DECLARED BY PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN BACK IN 1863 AS A DAY OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING TO OUR GOD ABOVE. IN TODAYS LIVING THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES THAT TRY TO SEPARATE WHAT BEING GRATEFUL TO A HOLY, HIGHER POWER MEANS, ESPECIALLY IN THE POLITICAL SCENE. SO, IT IS TO SAY WE CAN ONLY DO WHAT EACH OF US CHOOSES TO DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, NO MATTER HOW SMALL WE MIGHT THINK IT TO BE.

I PERSONALLY HAVE ELECTED TO CHANGE MY OUTLOOK AND NEED TO BE MORE CONSCIENTIOUS OF MY ATTITUDE WITH EVERYONE I HAVE CONTACT WITH. SINCE MY TWIN BROTHER’S DEATH IN MAY, I REALIZED AND WAS REMINDED THAT WE ALL LIVE ON BORROWED TIME HERE ON EARTH. LIVING LIFE IS WHAT WE MAKE IT TO BE AND YES, WE ENDURE HARDSHIPS ALONG WITH HAPPINESS.  MY PLEDGE IS I DON’T WANT TO LIVE WITH REGRETS. I WANT TO LOOK FOR THE BLESSINGS THAT ARE GIVEN TO ME EACH DAY.  IN RETURN JUST MAYBE I CAN BE A BLESSING TO SOMEONE ELSE.  GOD HAS GIVEN US HUMANS FREE WILL WHICH ENABLES US TO MAKE CHOICES……  UPON RISING EACH MORNING WE CHOOSE HOW TO MEET THE DAY. THIS DOES NOT MEAN WE ARE MET ALWAYS WITH SMOOTH RIDING….. GOD PUTS A FEW BUMPS IN THE ROAD. HE WANTS US TO KNOW HE IS IN CHARGE AND TO TRUST HIM.

THERE IS A SONG THAT COMES TO MIND ABOUT BLESSINGS AND IS TITLED “COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS”. I’LL ONLY GIVE THE CHORUS WHICH SAYS, “COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, NAME THEM ONE BY ONE, COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, SEE WHAT GOD HATH DONE”. 

THESE WORDS BELOW ARE AN EYE OPENER ALSO

                      One day someone died----- and the pain of learning that sometimes there isn’t any more. No More hugs, No more lucky moments to celebrate together, No more phone calls just to chat, No more “just one minute.” Sometimes, what we care about the most goes away. Never to Return before we can say good-bye or “I love you.” So while we have it…. It’s best we love It……and care for it and fix it when it’s broken and take good care of it when it’s sick. This Is true for marriage….. And especially friendships; And children with bad report cards; dogs with bad hips; and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they’re worth it. Sometimes things we keep.. like a best friend who moved away, a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that MAKE us happy, no matter what. LIFE is important, and so are the people we know and care about.. So we keep them close!!

Marvin and I would say to all of our friends in G.W.T.A.…Thank You to all ….for being a special part of our lives….. HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

                                                                                            Blessings, Dodie Sickler