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Editor’s note: On Thanksgiving Day 20 years ago, The Eagle published a letter from Wayne Carlisle, who was director of placement at Wichita State University. He died a few weeks later. His wife, Kathy Carlisle, asked The Eagle to republish the letter as a “reminder of our need to be thankful.”
Thanksgiving is very special this year. I don’t take the time to thank people enough for all that they contribute. “They know I am thankful” is one cop-out. “I’ll wait till the right moment” is my favorite excuse, since it puts the blame on circumstances rather than my own lack of openness. This year I can afford neither excuse, nor any new ones I could invent.
There are very few advantages to being a cancer patient, but getting priorities in order is a wonderful side effect. I have been fortunate to live a full life, including the last four and a half years with a “terminal” form of cancer. Now I am told this will be my last Thanksgiving. I intend to live as long and as energetically as possible, but I think the experts are correct and I thank them for their honesty and the freedom it provides to plan carefully.
Thanksgiving 1991 can’t provide the opportunity to thank some people, because they have already had their last Thanksgiving. It does give me the chance to give thanks for a wonderful life.
My life has been more pleasant than 99 percent of the people on this planet. I have had the joy of meaningful relationships and the fulfillment of work that helped others. I thank all of you who have directly influenced my life. I hope I have and will continue to thank you. I also thank many others for your indirect impact on my life. I have appreciated, but not thanked, people for their cheerful outlook, a kind word or a prayer of hope.
This may well be my last official Thanksgiving, but I intend to give thanks until the end. I hope you will accept my thanks as you remember to give yours. Please don’t risk running out of Thanksgivings before you have given thanks.
WAYNE CARLISLE
Wichita
