Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

This coming week is Thanksgiving week here in the USA. It’s a time that all of us, in some way, give thanks for all we have and for those we love. A time for families and friends to gather together. To Dixie and me it’s a very special time.

Many of you know that our oldest granddaughter Katie (21) was diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphoblastic lymphoma – leukemia) in early March. If you’re not familiar with ALL it’s basically one serious, bad ass cancer. Unlike Hodgkin’s or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, ALL is far more evasive, far more difficult, and far more painful as treatment progresses.

I’m sure Katie would be appalled if I shared a lot of details with you, but it’s safe to say that she’s had a very, very tough time of it as the chemo and steroids built up in her system and created some very bad side effects.

It has now been over 8 months since treatment began. The good news is that there have been no surprises. Basically, no setbacks. For our extended family this is great news.

The bad news is that with ALL the treatments last at least 2+ years. Like I said, ALL is one bad ass disease. One belligerent disease. But curable. And this is good news. This is why all of us in the Ashby, Voytek, Rafalowski, and Nieman family give thanks this Thanksgiving.

Thinking about the last 8 months, I realize that there is just so much that all of us, every one of us, take for granted. Friendships, freedoms, liberties, the love of our friends and families, our country, and yes, good health. All you really have to do is be around someone who has a terrible disease to realize whatever aches and pains you have are really not that bad. Not something you should be complaining about. Instead, we should all be thankful.

This Thanksgiving week I hope everyone will take some “quiet time” to reflect on all we are (or should be) thankful for. We live in a wonderful country and have fantastic freedoms. Our health care is the best available in the world. Our economy is strong. We have fair laws regulating hunting and fishing and the freedom to pursue those pastimes with passion. Even the poorest of our citizens enjoy a standard of living that would be considered opulent by 90% of the world’s population.

Yes, all of us are very fortunate.

Dixie and I hope all of you, our friends and customers, have a most wonderful Thanksgiving. A Thanksgiving full of love, hope, generosity, and reflection. Our very best wishes go out to one and all.

This weekend we have some great gift ideas that will surely help make your family and friends happy.

Thanks to all of our great friends and customers who have supported us and passed our name on to their friends. We know we are only here by making sure your needs are our first and only priority. Please let me know if we ever fail to meet and exceed your expectations.

Tight Lines,

Tom Ashby