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Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, The following post is from someone in my HepatitisC Support group. I would like to share it with you. I feel that we share some of the same symptoms and fears in our struggle to live with our disease. (Just change the disease and symptoms to relate to PD). Everyone a big group (((((Hug)))) and Thank you to Barbara for starting this list and to Camilla for starting the CARE sublist, as well as Jeff, Susan and all the others who have dedicated their time and efforts into making this group what it is today, a wonderful place of support and information. Debra [log in to unmask] >Dear Friends, > >While many of you are not living in the US, so do not have our tradition >of the holiday of Thanksgiving, I nevertheless want to share some >feelings about this day. > >I lived in China from 1993 to 1995 and spent 2 Thanksgiving Days there. >Of course, the Chinese there do not celebrate TD, and most think it is a >Christian holiday (that's what it says in their Chinese-English >dictionaries). I came to understand that while it is indeed an >essentially American holiday (with cultural and religious meanings), for >me it is a day to reflect on what has happened in the past year and to >focus / refocus myself on the good and positive while pondering the bad >and negative. I see this day as kind of a learning transition. Being >immersed in Chinese culture, I saw and continue to see Thanksgiving as >our most special and important holiday as it brings us together in >sharing without the gloss of spending required at Christmas and Easter. > >I shared the day both years in China with people who had helped me in >some way or another. Some were officials who helped make my research >possible, others were friends. I took food to some people's houses, for >some I just stopped at their houses to thank them and wish them a good >day. Part of the process the first day, was to explain what the holiday >meant to me to the village head so he could determine how appropriate it >was for him and his staff to attend a banquet that I hosted to thank >them. We all had such a good time Chinese style, sitting at circular >tables, sharing food and yes, alcohol. The communion of sharing food, >drink, laughter and song carried over from my American culture to their >Chinese one. By the second year, there were no more questions about what >Thanksgiving is about. I'll call them all tomorrow to carry on a bit of >those Thanksgiving Days which really made me see that sharing on this day >can mean so much. > >In the past year, I came home from China. I am now vegatarian, don't >drink alcohol, and my mind is filled with the lessons I learned there >about them, about us, and me, about giving and sharing. As we all have >on this lst, the year has been filled with learning about HCV, biopsies, >headaches, INF, needles, fatigue and frustration with not being able to >physically do what my mind and spirit desire. But in all this, I feel so >intensely grateful to have been able to share in the lives of all of you >on this list. You have given me strength and hope and the promise that >someone will listen and hear me. You have enriched my life. Thank you >from the bottom of my heart! > >Geff, I owe you a special thanks in your creation of this list. Perhaps >the motivation stemmed from your own desire to communicate, but in the >end your creation of this list and the work you and others do to maintain >it is one of the most special gifts I have ever received. > >We who have hepatitis continue to live, but having this place / space >where we can share with each other offers a communion of kindred bodies >and souls. Thank you all and may you have a very happy and healthy >Thanksgiving! xxx> Take Care Debra mharper@worldgate