Thankful

For the past 30 years I have been cooking Thanksgiving dinner for my entire family. My mother passed on the duty to me when she turned 60 years old. For the past 30 years my brother Mike has stressed and worried that he wouldn't get fed. Every year he starts calling me about 2 weeks before Thanksgiving to check and make sure I'm going to cook. Every year I assure him that he won't go hungry. I remind him he ate last year and the year before and the year before that and he has yet to go hungry on Thanksgiving. His next question after "are you still cooking" is "will there be something for me to eat"? Mike has a phobia about chickens and to him a turkey is just a chicken on steroids. He won't go near one let alone eat one. So, for every holiday I make sure there is a ham or roast or something cooked specifically for him. And..every year I assure him that this year will be no exception. For about two weeks prior to a holiday he gets very concerned that I will get mad at him and won't cook. I tell him I may get mad at him but I'll still feed him. We have some very interesting conversations my brother and I. One of the side-affects of his medication is that he repeats what you say. I'm used to it but sometimes it does get a little annoying. I feel like I'm hearing an echo. The other thing he does is when you answer the phone he is already have way through the conversation. No hello, no this is your brother, he's just in mid thought and you have to catch up.

But I love him! I love his wonderful heart and his kind spirit. He never talks to anyone without "blessing their heart". Those aren't just words to him either he is deeply sincere. In spite of all his health problems and his personal struggle with mental illness he cares more for others than himself. He loves deeply and his loyalty knows no boundaries.

So of all the things I am thankful for today he is on my top 5 list! He teaches me every day!