Gratitude is in the Air at SHI

by Trevor Meek

BROOKLINE, MA — Poor Thanksgiving, you never stood a chance. Hardly had we the time to digest our Halloween candy before the advertisers, supermarkets, and department stores began hammering us over the head with their idea of Christmas cheer: Buy this! Buy it now! Is it just us over here at SHI, or is Christmas arriving earlier and earlier each year? Maybe we’re just being Scrooges. But, for goodness sake, how are we supposed to give Turkey Day its full due when Starbucks has already loosed their red cups upon us?

For those of us who prefer to absorb our holidays in order like episodes of a Netflix show, it’s all become a bit much. Please, let us fatten ourselves on gravy and stuffing before you even think about putting on the Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé! But we digress.

In honor of Thanksgiving we decided to call around the Specialized Housing community and ask residents about their plans for, and thoughts on, the upcoming holiday. Of the ten we polled, only one resident said that Thanksgiving was their favorite holiday. And then he changed his mind at the last minute and chose — you guessed it — Ho ho ho!  Not a great start to our little campaign.

Abby from Maine displays her original painting of SHI director Chuck Silsby. She says she is thankful for him.

Abby from Maine tells us, “Thanksgiving is great!” But she can’t say that it’s her favorite holiday, overall. This year, however, Thanksgiving does take up an extra special place in Abby’s heart. “I’ll be visiting my mom and my older brother down South,” she tells us excitedly. “Because of COVID I haven’t seen my brother in two years!”

Abby’s journey will begin on a bus from Maine to Logan airport where she’ll then hop onto a direct flight to Raleigh, NC. Before we can even ask if she’s excited or nervous for her trip, or a healthy mixture of both, Abby tells us, confidently, “I’ll be wearing my mask at all times and staying six feet apart from other people when I can. And sanitizer, always sanitizer. I’m also going to be taking a COVID test before I leave and then another one before I come back to Maine.” She sounds prepared.

Mike from Brookline has his own honest and admirable take on the holiday season. “I don’t really look forward to the holidays,” he tells us. “I sometimes have a difficult time being around lots of people.” We totally get that, Mike — the holidays can be stressful and exhausting. However, Mike does very much look forward to the lamb, which, in addition to the turkey, his family traditionally serves up on Thanksgiving. When asked about his travel plans, Mike explains that his family lives just over the river in Medford. “I’ve been lucky during the pandemic. I’ve been able to see my family a lot, some of them almost every day.”

Unable to help ourselves, we had to ask both Abby and Mike that dreaded question which doting grandparents have been asking around Thanksgiving dinner tables for centuries: What are you most thankful for?

Mike at home in Brookline

Without any hesitation, Mike tells us, “I’m thankful for my family, their support and their help. Every single family member that I have supports me. Family comes first.”  Well said, Mike. Is somebody cutting onions?

Likewise, Abby says that she is also very grateful to her family for their support, and adds, “I’m so thankful for Specialized Housing — my housemates, the staff. It’s the best place I’ve ever lived.” This advertisement was not paid for by Specialized Housing, Inc. — but we do approve this message.

Safe travels, Abby! Please tell your brother we said hello. And, hey, Mike? Save us some lamb chops.

From all of us here at Specialized Housing, we wish you the very happiest of happy Thanksgivings!