Question of the Week
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Leading up to Thanksgiving, we asked this question: During this Thanksgiving
season, to whom will you say "thank you"? How? Why? We
asked some of those who responded to let us know how things went. Here's
what they told us...
Original Response by Chick Karin
I plan on telling my friend, Diane, thanks. This will be very strange
as she will not expect it... nor will she welcome it. But, I suppose it's
about time in this lifetime of a friendship that I thank her for being
a great friend. She lets me abuse her, make fun of her, and she listens
without judgment. Most of all, she is available at moment's notice when
I need her... either to go on a trip, be my date at a dinner or to drive
the kids to where they are supposed to be. I should really probably thank
her for finally moving to within a mile of me, as it has made our morning
coffee so much easier. Wish me luck, as she probably won't hear me. She
can never hear anything good about her. Maybe I'll tell her it looks like
she's gained a few, then she'll listen up. Here I go...
Follow-Up Report
Last week when I answered the Chicks' Question of the Week Thanksgiving
Challenge, I kinda lied. I said that I was going to thank my friend Diane
for being such a great friend and all that she has done for me. I did
thank Diane, but there was more to the answer. I knew that Diane would
be my only friend that wouldn't check the website to read the answers,
so I was safe to answer the question using her name.
Well in reality, I was going to thank ALL of my friends in some way for
being my friend. I had just finished reading the
book "Lucky" by Alice Sebold and decided that I would send
the book off to all of the friends that I felt lucky to call my friend.
My girlfriends here in the Twin Cities got a bouquet of Christmas flowers
because I have a favorite florist near their house, and the bookstore
had run out of the book, thanks to me.
The response was fun. It was nice to get the calls and emails knowing
you had surprised someone and made their day. I love surprises. Some still
may not have gotten their package (Sheila in Calgary), but I'm sure I'll
hear from them. My favorite story does involve Diane (remember I told
you she was a little ditzy?)... well, I had her book, all wrapped up,
with a card, sitting on her kitchen table when she got home from her trip
to the Bahamas. I could hardly wait for her call.
It took her two days before she even noticed it.
Original Response by Chick Jeanette
For lack of anything else to come into my mind on this topic, I am
going to say a special thank you to each of my three daughters, who, together
with their partners, have given Pete and I these nine wonderful grandchildren.
They really are one of the greatest blessings during this stage of our
lives. I will say a special thank you via e mail today.
Follow-Up Report
I have three wonderful daughters whom I thanked via e-mail for giving
(with the help of their partner) our nine wonderful grandchildren who
are truly a blessing in this time of our lives. One daughter did not reply
to the thank you at all. Another daughter replied with "I didn't
do it on purpose." And a third daughter replied with "So, without
our kids, we are chopped liver, right?" So what can I say?? Don't
ask a hard question like that again.
Original Response by Cindy
Two years ago, I was going through a difficult time in my life...
making some bad choices. My friend Stacy did what a friend should do --
she made me face the consequences of my behavior and tried to make me
change the direction I was headed. I didn't. In fact, I resented her for
butting into my business and stopped talking to her and seeing her. Now
I see she was right and I'm paying the price for not listening.
We haven't talked in over a year, but I am going to stop by and see
her during the Thanksgiving weekend. I don't know if she'll welcome me
or not, but she at least needs to hear me say "I'm sorry" and
"Thank-you for being a true friend."
Follow-Up Report
I was too nervous to just stop by, so I ended up calling Stacy first and
asking if I could come over to talk. I was so nervous! She seemed kind
of cold and reserved. But she said I could come over and I went.
When I showed up at her door, kids were running around and there were
all kinds of distractions. It just wasn't how I had "seen" it
in my mind -- a swelling of background music as two long-estranged friends
were finally reunited. Instead, right there in the middle of all the noise
and commotion, I just said to her, "All this time... you were right.
I just want you to know I'm sorry."
I started to cry. She hugged me and cried with me. I love having my friend
back again. Thank you for the push!
Original Response by Janice
The kids are gone on a retreat this weekend. My husband, Jeff, has
had to sacrifice a lot during the past 18 months just to help us make
ends meet. This Friday night, I'm going to thank him by surprising him
with a romantic evening he won't soon forget! (He'll need the rest of
the weekend to recover.)
Follow-Up Report
Uh... well... Jeff informed me late that afternoon that he was going over
to his brother's. I was welcome to come along, if I wanted (thrill, thrill...
no thank you). He doesn't even know what he missed! What happened to those
days of easy, care-free romance?
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