There should have been a warning like this one – you have mail that you’ve never received before – because I was not expecting to get such a nice and welcome surprise!

Today, while having my morning coffee and checking emails, I was surprised because I’d never received a Happy Thanksgiving Day card before, and I was thrilled because of who sent it to me.

It was a beautiful, animated card of a country scene, complete with pumpkins, children playing, grownups doing their thing, and of course, my favorite – dogs. 

Music played as I watched the scenes unfold, and I was touched that anyone had even thought of me on Thanksgiving.   

In addition to the animation, there was the following comment:

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are thankful for having you in our lives.

On this special day we wish you good health, wonderful memories, and lots of tasty turkey!

Fondly,

Norm and Gina

The card was from the USA, which accounts for the tears forming in my eyes as I write.

I’ve always believed that having real friends is better than money or material things. 

I have never bought anything that made me as happy as having friends. 

And I have never cried because there was something I couldn’t afford. 

But I’ve always cried when I’ve lost a dear friend.

I recently wrote about such a new friendship and how our meeting had affected me. 

I felt the same when I met my friend Norm Colon and Gina, his much younger wife.

It was about a year ago,  and I was on a scheduled walk with one of my walking clubs. 

We were standing in front of the Peace Arch Monument at the border crossing, getting our picture taken when we first spoke.

Norm mentioned that it was his first walk in a year because he had been undergoing stomach cancer treatments. 

I immediately liked this man, not just because we both had had cancer. 

There are some people I can connect with instantly, and those people usually become my friends for life.

I have buddies I’ve known all my life but haven’t seen in decades – yet, we’re still best friends.

My friend Peter Hrehoruk, whom I’ve only seen several times since the early 1980s, is one of my best friends. 

He recently underwent quadruple bypass surgery on his heart. 

I call him each week to see how he’s doing. 

I am so proud of him for his courage.

And Norm Colon is another person whose courage I admire. 

When hanging by your fingertips on the edge of doom, it takes more than doctors or medicine to pull you through. 

And Norm is one of the bravest men I know. 

Our lives have been very similar – our dads were alike, too.

The last time I saw Norm, he told me something I will always remember. 

He said that as he looks at his accomplishments in life – he’s proudest of the fact that his sons remember, love, and are always thoughtful to their mom.

So, to Norm and Gina, thank you for thinking of me on your Thanksgiving Day. 

I’m sending you a Thanksgiving card in Canada’s version next year, in October.

Now I have two best friends with the same name. 

One lives in Surrey, BC, and one lives in Fairhaven, USA.

In the future, I will refer to one as Norm (the southern one) and the other as Norm (the northern one).

I always enjoy visiting the USA, and here’s a special message to my American friends.

Dedicated to Norm and Gina Colon

I hope my stories are a gift to your head and heart.

Hugs,

Danny

Today’s tune from Danny’s library (purchased):

You’ve got to get up every morning
With a smile on your face
And show the world all the love in your heart
Then people gonna treat you better
You’re gonna find, yes, you will
That you’re beautiful, as you feel

Waiting at the station with a workday wind a-blowing
I’ve got nothing to do but watch the passers-by
Mirrored in their faces, I see frustration growing
And they don’t see it showing, why do I?

You’ve got to get up every morning
With a smile on your face
And show the world all the love in your heart
Then people gonna treat you better
You’re gonna find, yes, you will
That you’re beautiful as you feel

I have often asked myself the reason for the sadness
In a world where tears are just a lullaby
If there’s any answer, maybe love can end the madness
Maybe not, oh, but we can only try

You’ve got to get up every morning
With a smile on your face
And show the world all the love in your heart
Then people gonna treat you better
You’re gonna find, yes, you will
That you’re beautiful
You’re beautiful
You’re beautiful as you feel

Songwriters: Carole King
Beautiful lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Here’s what Danny is listening to now: Drowning in a Tub Full of Tunes