“The event that Americans commonly call the “First Thanksgiving” was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in October 1621. This feast lasted three days, and—as accounted by attendee Edward Winslow—it was attended by 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims.” (Wikipedia)
Whether this is the true story is controversial. Nevertheless, the idea of celebrating and giving thanks, I do like. Most people link Thanksgiving to a family reunion with the traditional Turkey Meal. In Switzerland Thanksgiving is not a holiday. It is only when I live on Maui, HI, as I do at the moment, that I recognize this holiday and join one of the parties my son and daughter-in-law are invited to.
Thinking about the holiday this year, makes me ponder the real meaning behind it, even behind the word Thanks-giving, giving thanks. Applying this to my personal life, I see how fortunate I am; how much I have to give thanks for. Looking at my good fortune on a broader scale, I realize what a privilege it is to live in a country like Switzerland, which has stayed free of wars for centuries, having been brought up in a happy family, being able to raise a family myself with three wonderful sons and three beautiful daughters-in-law, who all have good jobs and enjoy what they do, and having five healthy grandchildren.
I sometimes find it hard to see how wonderfully it continues to unfold. For example: yet another year that I have the good fortune of living on Maui for several months out of the year.
This year my in-laws invited me to visit them in Tokyo on my way to Maui. When I told my Swiss friend Catherine, who used to work as a flight attendant, she said, “I can get you a ticket from Zurich to Tokyo for only SFr. 250.— !” (That is about a third of the normal ticket price), I gratefully accepted.
Checking in at Zurich Airport, I became nervous since they could not give me a seat until the very last minute; in fact not until almost everybody boarded the plane. Although they confirmed I would have a seat, waiting was part of the price I paid for the discounted fare. I pictured myself sitting at the very back where it is loud and maybe even placed between two large bodies, not being able to move nor have any room to stretch my legs. Or even worse, having to sit on a rumble seat.
Finally, the attendant called my name and said. “Mrs. Pfister, your seat number is 35D. Just give this to my colleague and he will give you the ticket. Have a good flight.”
He handed me a little note with the seat number, which in turn I handed over to the employee at the checking point. After sliding the slip of paper through a machine, I finally had my official seat number in my hand. As I started down the aisle looking for 35D, I suddenly remembered that when checking the seats while booking the flight, 35D had been towards the front of the plane. Sure enough, I passed the business class and in the very first row, I found my seat at the aisle. I was abashed, wondering how I had earned this perfect place for a flight 12-hours long. After a while, I began to relax and was simply grateful. I accepted my good fortune and kept thinking thank you, thank you, as I slowly dozed off.
Next to me sat a Japanese couple and next to them another Japanese lady. I listened to them talk in what was for me, still so foreign a language. As we drew closer to our landing time, I became nervous. Would I find my way to the bus, which would then take me into town where I would be picked up?
After a safe landing and we had taxied to our designated spot, I stood up, opened the overhead bin and handed first a jacket and handbag to the lady sitting next to me before I took down my hand luggage. She gave me a smile and in a broken English said, “It was a pleasure sitting next to you. Thank you a lot.”
I took the opportunity and continued the conversation by asking her, “Do you live in Tokyo?” I soon realized that she did not understand my question and looked at the other Japanese lady sitting next to her husband. She happily translated. I told them that it was my first visit to Japan and asked them if they could tell me where I would find the bus station taking me into town while showing them the prepared sheet my daughter-in-law had given me with all the information in both English and Japanese.
All three of them, the couple as well as the other lady smiled and nodded. “No problem,” said the translator. “I will go with you and show you the place.”
I started to relax and again realized how fortunate I was to meet just the right people. They made sure I was standing at the correct carousel for my luggage. They even waited until I finished the paperwork for immigration and customs even though being natives, their line was much faster. And finally, the lady guided me to the right exit. On the way, we had just a short time to exchange a few words. “I am only in Tokyo for a week for further education,” the translator told me. “I am a therapist and actually I live in Montreux, Switzerland.” What a surprise for me. Montreux is a beautiful town on Lake Geneva and only about an hour and a half away from where I live.
As we stepped through the exit door, and the lady pointed to the ticket booth where I had to get the bus ticket, I saw my Swiss friend who had organized my flight ticket, she and her travel companion showed up to greet me. I knew they had arrived the day before in Tokyo and would also travel around Japan at the same time I did. However, I did not expect her to meet me at the airport. What a great surprise.
The Japanese lady left me saying, “I think you will find your way now. I should catch my own train.”
“Here, take my card,” I said handing her my business card. “Let’s keep in touch in Switzerland.”
I didn’t remember her name and wondered if I would hear from her again. (Soon after I arrived on Maui I had an E-mail from her. We intend to get together, when I am back in Switzerland.)
My good fortune continued. I made it to the city of Tokyo finding my host, my daughter-in-law’s father. I was treated superbly my whole week in Japan. First at their private home and later when we visited Kyoto. The weather was warm and sunny, the famous fall colors in Kyoto were almost at their peak, the hotel was in a great location, and we ate fantastic food both at their home and in high- class Japanese restaurants where I was served beautiful vegan food prepared just for me. We read about an Ikebana exhibition, open only for a few days, and were even given free tickets. My travel onward to Maui was flawless and back at my home on the island, I continue to receive its beauty, friendship, friendliness, and aloha.
I wonder why I am so fortunate? Maybe it’s because I was born on a Sunday. (In Switzerland there is a saying you are a Sunday-kid if luck is following you wherever you go.) Maybe it’s because my gratefulness practice pays off now. Maybe the stars are just right for me, or maybe I have finally learned to see the good in all and to accept what is and appreciate it. And then there is this law: What you focus on will grow.
So, HAPPY THANKS – GIVING!