Today is the Thanksgiving holiday in the USA, and most people will sit down at some time today to elaborate meals shared with someone they care about, in celebration of the holiday.

For me, today has special significance because I was recently reminded of someone that I considered a dear friend when I first moved to the St. Louis metro area.  It was December, 1994, when we met, and she was one of my superiors at the job I moved there for.  No, she was more of a mentor, because we both did the same type of work there.  Her name was Francine.

Last Saturday, my wife saw a Facebook post by one of Francine’s relatives, announcing that Francine is dying of cancer.  The relative used the phrase “has finally admitted that she is . . . ” which says to me that Francine has been sick for some time.  She was expected to die within days, but I’ve heard no update since.

Anyway, this got me to thinking of the many people I knew and liked at that job – and how many of them have died of cancer.  Not many have died, but to a person, ALL who have died did so of cancer.  What does that say about the place where we worked?  Most died while still working there.

So, today I’m giving thanks for the MANY wonderful people who have touched my life over the last 55 years.   Some had minor appearances in my story, some inspired whole chapters.  They were all special, and I’m forever grateful to have known them.  It will be a while, but eventually I will see them again.  The great video game of  LIFE always respawns with a new character.