I have lots to give thanks for this Thanksgiving, really.

**David again...  (I feel the need to keep stating this... just in case...  :) )


Today is Canadian Thanksgiving.
Richard often gave thanks for having so many people in his life, who cared, who shared, and who occasionally put him in his place when he acted up.

He acted up a lot after the diagnosis.  Wouldn't you?
"Hi, I'm your neurologist.  I hope your credit card has a 4-year expiry date on it, 'coz you don't!  LOL"...  <sigh>
Richard would have thought that was funny.  I'd admit it if not...

He got angry.  That's part of life.  Often, it's a passing issue, like missing the last train, not having enough cash to buy lunch with, or being 20 minutes late for a movie.
With ALS, you have a lot to be angry about.  Life, the Universe, and Everything, can be blamed for it, but you still have to deal with it.  Having ALS steamed him up.

He blew off that steam with this blog, and more than a few of you, his readers, have thanked him for it.
He never felt he was a spokesperson, an advocate, a role model, or an inspiration.
His personal, real, day-to-day life, didn't seem that special to him.

Many agreed, and didn't think him that special... he was just being himself.
But there really WAS something special about him.
His ability to laugh at his terminal illness.
His ability to laugh at him peeing on himself.
His ability to laugh at anything, really.
It might take an hour, a day, or a few stiff drinks, but eventually, he'd be able to laugh at pretty much anything life threw his way.

Any time there was another bump in the road, friends around him would help remind him that "things could be worse," to which he inevitably replied with a smirking shriek, "I have ALS. How, exactly, could things be worse?!?"  Often, the reply was "You could be out of Scotch."
He'd give Thanks for a stocked bar.
Then he'd give Thanks for a stocked fridge.
For a roof over his head.
For friends & family to keep him centred.
He had a lot to be thankful for.

So did we, who knew him.