Don,
What do I have to be thankful for? First of all, the year 2009 has seen many tears shed in the Robinson household. In the year 2009, my dad had cancer, I have a disease that just seems to worsen as the days go by, my teenage daughter ends up pregnant, my job slows down and I go from 44 hours a week to 32 hours a week and this is just after purchasing a house.
I ask myself what DO I have to be thankful for? In 2009, we did not know on many occasions if Dad would make it through his cancer. He struggled so much.He had lost over 100 pounds and I figured it was just a matter of time and I was going to lose him. After about a year, he had surgery and a tumor the size of a softball was removed. The doctors say they got all the cancer. He is now gaining weight back and as grumpy as ever!! Love ya, Dad....Thank God.
My job, I have always taken for granted. I was cut from 44 to 32 hours a week but thank God I am still working and not one making no money at all.
The disease I have is very tough. It is called Meniers disease and has taken much of my hearing and I get dizzy often. I used to swing shifts weekly at work and my job was very hard. Because of my disease, I could no longer swing shifts or run machinery, so I ended up with an office type job. I am not thankful for the disease, but thankful I am home now every day by 4 and I can coach my kids and sleep in my bed every night. Without this disease, I am sure I would still be swinging shifts and hating life.
My daughter ends up pregnant and it just crushed me. She is going to have the baby any day and, in fact, by the time you read this may of already had it. You ask how can he be thankful for his teenage daughter having a baby? I am not thankful for the situation. I am thankful she is stronger then I am and had the courage to accept the responsibility of her actions. She is a very athletic girl and popular, not only at her school, but many schools around her because of the sports she played. I gave her options when I found out she was pregnant and shamefully having the baby was not one I wanted her to do. The only option she had and believed in was to have the baby. It had to be hard to go to school daily and get stared at, made fun of and just be so embarrassed and uncomfortable. I am so thankful she is strong enough and has made me stronger watching her. Through this pregnancy I am thankful I had the family and the friends I have. I have been so blessed to know so many people.
This small town of Jefferson has been wonderful. There are so many names I could mention of family and friends I am thankful for but you already know who you are.
My oldest daughter, who now resides in Columbus, worked at a fast-food place while putting herself through college. About a year and half ago, she got a promotion to manager. One of the duties she had was to open up in the morning and this she did alone. As she was getting things ready and doing her daily routine she walked around the corner and was grabbed from behind by two men with masks who cocked a loaded gun and put it to her head, demanding she open the safe. She could not remember the combination through the shock and the frightened state she was in. One guy put the gun to her temple and told her she had better get the safe open or he was going to shoot her. She finally did get them what they wanted. They stole her purse and her belongings to go with the cash in the safe and told her we have your identity and know where you live and if you call the cops, we will find you. She did call the police but they never found the two cowards.
Two weeks after this, my daughter quit the restaurant. About a year later the place was robbed again and they shot a girl working there. They asked the girl if she remembered them. I am not thankful this girl got shot, but I am thankful my daughter is safe and sound and nothing happened to her.
We live in such a messed up world!!
I am thankful for many things and many people. My wife and family are on the top of that list. If I were to start naming people I am thankful for, this would take up a whole section of newspaper all by itself.
I am thankful for so many other things that get taken for granted daily. We should all take a look around and see how bad others have it and be thankful we have what we have.
Thank you, Mr. McCormack, for all you do and for all you have done. You know what I mean by that.
Also, thanks for this opportunity to express my thanks to many things.
Don Robinson
Jefferson
Don,
First off, I am thankful for the help of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour, for without his help and guidance, I wouldn’t have what I have today.
I want give him a huge thank you for giving me the best wife a man could ask for. Without her, I probably wouldn’t be here today.
In March of 2007, we were in Florida and I had a stroke. We were at her cousin’s home. There were four people there and she was the only one who knew I was having a stroke. She told her cousin to call 911 and tell them and in less than a half hour, I was in the hospital. Thanks to her quick thinking and reaction, I am still here today.
She has been an extremely important of my rehab. I can walk with the aid of a hemi walker and her help. She takes extremely good care of me.
I think the last couple years have been just as hard for her as they have been for me, maybe even harder. We had to put an addition on our home so I could come home from the rehab facility. She took care of all the planning, scheduling, etc.
A lot of women would probably have left by now.
I also had a lot of help from our friends and neighbors.
There is a saying that you can tell how rich a man is by the number of friends he has. I must be a millionaire because I know I have a lot of great friends and I thank God for them every day.
I also have two wonderful daughters, two sons-in-law and three grandchildren. I am proud of all of them and love them all very much. My daughters’ in-laws are great as well.
This is all thanks to God and I thank Him every day.
I want to say a great big thank you to my wife at this time of Thanksgiving and I want her to know she is the best and that I love her very much and I thank God He sent her to me in December of 1964 when we started dating. We were married in February of 1969.
It hasn’t always been easy, but together, we can weather any storm.
Me, God and Barb are a great team.
I love you, Barb.
Sincerely,
Robert F. DeMay
Don,
I am most thankful for what I call my “4-Fs.” My 4-fs are 1, my wonderful and supportive family; 2, my vast network of friends I can always count on; 3, my fitness, aka good health that enables me to enjoy the gift of my family and friends; and 4, my unending faith in God, who blessed me with my family, friends and fitness/health.
As for my family, I am so thankful that we are a fun, loving, caring, and always-there-for-one-another bunch. Mom and Dad are still alive and kicking, After 48 years of marriage, they still live in the same house I grew up in on the corner of Vaughan Avenue and 23rd Street in Parkersburg, W.Va. My four brothers and three sisters and I are scattered across the country and heaven, but we always know that Mom will be cooking on holidays and other occasions during the year. In a world filled with divorce, broken families, siblings and parents who don’t get along, and children who have no idea who their father/mother is, I am so very thankful that my family is still together, love each other, actually enjoy each other’s company, and is always there for each other if a crisis arises.
When I was born, I think God awarded me an extra “friendly gene” that gave me the ability to be friendly and make friends easily. Because of this, I am blessed with dear friends all over the United States and the world. I am so thankful to know that if I am having a bad day or just need a shoulder to cry on, one of my friends is either just down the street or a phone call away.
In regards to my third “F,” I am so oh very thankful for my God-given love for fitness and being healthy. God has truly blessed me all my life by giving me the psychological “need” and ambition to stay healthy and in shape.
Thirty-two years ago when I was 15 years old and a sophomore at Parkersburg (W.Va.) Catholic High School, our basketball/baseball coach was Mr. John Ellis (I’m not sure if he’s related to Geneva’s Brad Ellis). Being a very small high school, PCHS did not have a cross country team. But during the fall, Coach Ellis held a conditioning program for anyone who didn’t play football. I was a baseball player, but, I liked doing my workouts by myself. The main reason for this was I didn’t have much confidence in my ability to match up to the other guys. I often felt intimidated by the “jocks,” so I just stayed away from them.
So, the first day of fall conditioning came along and I didn’t go. The next day, I went to school and was at my locker when I heard a resounding “John Ayersman” being bellowed by Coach Ellis from the other end of the hall. Everyone stopped what they were doing, looked at me, and cleared a path for Coach Ellis as if he were Moses parting the waters of the Red Sea. I still remember my best friend, Jim Borrelli, whispering, “Man, what did you do?” I was too afraid to answer because Coach Ellis had made it to my side of the Red Sea. Now don’t get me wrong, Coach Ellis was a nice guy with a great sense of humor, but if you got him mad, he was like one of those intimidating jocks who I tried to stay away from.
Whatever I had done, it had made Coach Ellis mad enough to pull himself up to his full 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, glare down at me (I was only 5-10 and 130 pounds sopping wet back then), and give probably the shortest but most inspiring speech of his life. He just said, “Ayersman, I did not see you at the conditioning last night. I will see you tonight.” Then he turned around and went back to his side of the Red Sea.
Case closed.
Needless to say, I went to conditioning after school. I was afraid not to. And you know what? In the three-mile run we went on, I beat the other guys. Granted, none none of us had been trained as cross country runners. But just the fact that I could actually hang with the “intimidating jocks” and beat them made my confidence soar. But, most importantly, I really liked how I felt as I ran. I liked how my body felt as we lifted weights. I liked how I could think through those adolescent problems while I was running or working out. And I wasn’t intimidated by the jocks anymore.
That was 32 years ago and I am still thankful to Coach Ellis for noticing that a scrawny, unconfident sophomore baseball player hadn’t shown up for fall conditioning with the other jocks. I’ve kept up my conditioning all of these 32 years. Thanks to Coach Ellis’ confidence in me, I’ve been able to finish 38 marathons, 47 half marathons, four triathlons, 12 biathlons, and over 300 races.
I’ve seen neat things and places and met and kept countless friends through my fitness endeavors. I’m slower now and had to cut back on my running a couple of years ago because of the wear and tear on my knees. But, I still walk and bike and hike the shores of Lake Erie, enjoying the fresh air and the beautiful scenery of the outdoors. And whatever races I used to run, I just walk.
Being in good shape and having good health is such a wonderful gift. I look at it as God’s gift to us so that we can enjoy our family and friends. I am so thankful that God sent coach John Ellis to me that fall day in 1977. Thank you, Coach Ellis, for pushing me and getting me started on my lifelong passion of keeping myself fit so I can enjoy the gift of life, and my family and my friends.
And thank you, Don, for giving us all a chance to let everyone know how thankful we are for whatever or whomever we are thankful for.
Keep up the great work. All newspapers should have as wonderful and creative a sports editor as you.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sincerely,
John Ayersman
Geneva
Don,
Things I am Thankful For:
1) Keeper of the stars who joined these two hearts — finding Tammy after years of searching.
2) Being blessed with a “squad” of wonderful children.
3) The best parents and inlaws a man can ask for. What better role models for my children? Anna and Gary Hagstrom and Harry and Leonore Church. Really, I cannot think of any better.
4) That Alex is still with us.
5) Knowing my grandparents and spending time with them.
6) Every day with my children is a blessing. I know people who didn’t have the opportunity to grow up with their mother or father around.
John Hagstrom
Conneaut
Don,
I am Thankful For...
Three sons who all had prostate cancer last year and all were treated and doing well:
n Don — Had surgery in December.
n Dave — Had surgery in October.
n Dan — Had radiation and seeds implants and is doing better.
And, thank you all your columns and articles. I read sports faithfully and hope others do, too.
Thanks to you and all your staff — they do a wonderful job.
Mary Lou Craine
Geneva
Don,
This year, I am most thankful I am no longer allergic to eggs.
I have been a volunteer “Grandma” and sub at I.B.K.C. and A.B.C. child cares for many years working with the infants. This year, it was required that all workers with infants have the H1XN1 virus immunity shot. I have not been able to ever have a flu shot due to the allergy and this shot had egg also.
I had been diagnosed with the allergy over 35 years ago by a Dr. Abram at the Asthma and Hayfever Clinic in Shaker Heights. I was so distraut over not being able to be with those beautiful babies, I had myself retested by Dr. Lampl at the Allergy Diagnostic Center in Mentor. He said I no longer had the egg allergy. He said I was “a smart one” who continued to eat eggs sparingly and my body had built up an immunity to the allergy.
I was tested on a Thursday and on Monday morning, got the shot and was back on the job at 10 a.m. It had been a long tear-filled week without the love of those babies and that day I gave even more hugs and kisses than usual to each one.
I had many prayers chains praying over my dilemma and praise God for answered prayers.
Thank you for the opportunity to share my story.
Marian (Grandma) Spring
Don,
I am thankful for old Bula Field, where our old West Street gang grew up, for the cops who looked the other way as we scampered under the fence at the football field because we had no money for admission on Friday nights when the Ashtabula Panthers played, for West Junior High teachers, Bob Davis, Robert Wilson, Norm Benson, James Billy, Delores Patrick, Wade Cudeback and others who taught us honesty and life-ong values.
For early Saturday mornings after a Friday night football game, at the crack of dawn, when buddies such as James Jordan, Jimmy Parker, Ray Bucci, Augie and Frankie Pugliese, Big John Maouri and others who combed under the stands for nickles and dimes to keep us going for another week.
For West Junior High principal C.M. Horst, who opened the gym door on Saturdays and Sundays to let us kids play basketball in the gym with only the orders of don’t roam the halls, shut off the lights and lock the door when we left.
And for my son, Joe “Pigskin” Pete, who has loved sports since the first grade and through college and who has made me a proud father.
I could go on and on but not now.
Joe Pete, Sr.
Don,
There are people who I’m thankful for knowing all of my life, but the one person that I will be eternally thankful to is my father, Harry McClimans.
He never taught me any special skills to enhance my social status, but one thing he taught me, whether he knew it or not, was a good work ethic. This was taught to me, my brother and sister by Dad’s day in and day out consistency of showing up to his jobs and giving it his best every day to everyone he came in contact with.
For as long as I can remember, Dad worked two jobs, and believe me, that can get old real quick. Although it was hard for him to show his face at all of our school projects we knew that what he was doing was providing the best way he could for his family.
It was a different era back in the ’50s and ’60s. Many mothers, like my own, stayed home and took care of the kids and it made for a good household. My parents were not going to have latchkey kids. There were always snacks for my friends when they came over the house. Many of my friends even likened my mother to June Cleaver of the “Leave it to Beaver” show that ran in those years.
Dad let us go our owns ways as far as what we wanted to be in life and for the most part, it has worked out pretty well. But the main thing he expressed was to do the best that you can do with what you can do.
My motto is, “Do what ever it takes to make your family happy and whole.” It never comes easy and you have to be willing to put in the time and effort to make it happen, but then achieving this goal is never easy.
Dad wouldn’t have it any other way.
Bruce McClimans
Ashtabula
Don,
I have read many of your columns over the years and have never really replied to any of them but one earlier this year: the one about the games that we used to play as kids. It brought back some great memories of my childhood. Well, I am about to reply to my second column and this one comes straight from the heart, literally.
The date was April 12, 2008 and I was watching a Saturday night NASCAR race in my basement and was about to head up for bed when I started to feel this pain in my chest. I thought that maybe it was just heartburn but it also felt a little different this time. It felt like someone set a cinder block on my chest. I decided that I should go upstairs just in case it was something a little more serious. There were times that I have fallen asleep downstairs and I didn’t want to be left for dead down there because my wife would not think that it was odd if I didn’t come up to bed soon.
My wife was reading a book in bed and I told her that I wasn’t feeling too well. She told me to take some heartburn medicine and lay down. I told her that the pain was different and it was getting worse. After about 20 minutes, I told her that we better get to the hospital and soon. She knew that I was in pain because I never want to get things checked out. It was about 11 p.m., so it was no problem with traffic as I told her that we better not stop at any stop signs or traffic lights. Luckily, we only live about 5 minutes from the Geneva Hospital. We arrived at the hospital and went into the emergency room and everyone on that staff, from the checkin lady to the doctor that organized everyone, was ready to help me survive my first and, hopefully, last heart attack.
Within 30 minutes, the Lifeflight helicopter was landing in Geneva ready to take me to Cleveland to have emergency surgery. Again, I cannot stress how efficient that staff in the emergency room at Geneva was. Of course, I don’t remember much of this but my wife has gone over this story with me a few times since this happened. I do remember getting poked with a needle and taking about 6 or 7 nitroglycerin pills and being told that I was having a heart attack by the doctor. It was weird actually hearing it come out of someone’s mouth and I remember thinking that that was impossible because i was only 42 years old and thats too young to have one. Boy was I wrong. I guess if heart disease runs in your family, both my mom and dad have had heart attacks, you need to really keep up on how your heart is doing. Mine was not doing too well!
I ended up going to Cleveland via the helicopter in a ride that I barely remember. I do recall it being very small inside but that could have been because I was a pretty big guy at 6-foot and well over 300 pounds. They did emergency surgery on me and put 3 stents in to open up my artery and luckily didn’t have to do any bypass surgery. The doctors and staff in Cleveland took very good care of me while I was in the hospital. I was in there for 3 or 4 days and I do remember that the first day was the worst. I believe that my wife was there after surgery and my daughters came up shortly after that along with my dad and his wife.
By the time that I was out of surgery, it had to be 2 or 3 in the morning. I wasn’t allowed to move my legs for like 8 hours after surgery because I didn’t want to open the incision from the surgery or I could have bled to death so my wife and daughter had to hold my legs down for most of the night because I kept on trying to bend them. They kept giving me morphine for the pain but all that did was make me cry. My daughter swears that when she first walked in the room and saw me, I slapped her in the face and told her that I was sorry that I had a heart attack and then of course I started crying. Looking back now, the kids have a good time with that story!
Well, I guess I better get to the reason that I am writing this letter: To thank everybody that was involved in helping me survive my heart attack. I just don’t think that I have done that enough times over the past year and a half. Especially to the people that worked in the emergency room in Geneva that night I want to give you an extra special shout out because you so impressed me and my wife with your help and I never went back there to say thanks. You saved my life that night and I will NEVER forget that, even though I can’t put a face to all of you that helped me live.
So here it is: THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! You are very special people and what you do for a living has helped me go on with my life!
Thank you, Don, for giving me this opportunity to say thanks!
Enjoy the holiday season! I know I will!!
Bob Aponte
Geneva
Dear Don,
I am thankful for so many things — especially when I can start my day with a hot cup of coffee and the Star Beacon.
I scan the articles to read my favorite writers first — Carl Feather and Don McCormack — (and Bob Lebzelter on Sundays).
Keep writing and I will keep being a happy camper.
Nancy Bentley
Roaming Shores
Don,
What am I thankful for? Many things.
My kids, they are what I live for and I am very proud of them. Two attend college (Kent State and Hiram) and the third is college-bound when he graduates from Lakeside. At least they got their mother’s brains!
Second, is my wife of 20 years, Kelly. It if wasn’t for her, I really do not know where I would be today. She gave me three wonderful kids and straightened me out when we met.
Third, is my father, Thomas, for just being there and not disowning me for never wanting to hunt.
Fourth, is the teachers in the Ashtabula schools. If it wasn’t for them, my kids would not be destined for the great things in the future.
Next, would be my brother, Dale. Yeah, there were times we did not get along (what brothers do?), but as God as my witness, he would be there if I needed him.
And last, but not least, my in-laws. Again, if in need, I know they would be there and they have been in the past and will be in the future.
So, to those individuals, I am very thankful. And I’m glad you are here with me...
Chuck Sunderlin
Ashtabula
