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Thanksgiving: A celebration of peace between Americans

2009-11-27 09:44 BJT

HOUSTON, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Amid the worst U.S. recession in nearly three decades and unemployment figures hovering at 10.2 percent, one extended American family, like millions across the nation, is preparing for the annual day set aside to give thanks for what they cherish most.

For many, Thursday's Thanksgiving will be a painful reminder of what it was for like the first American pilgrims who sat down for that meager first feast after months or even years of famine, drought and other hardships.

For the Martins, Chase, Stiteler, Burnett and Oblas family who will be celebrating Thanksgiving just west of Houston or north of Dallas, it will be about surviving medical and economic uncertainty.

Chris Stiteler, an independent geological science contractor for the oil business who lives in Houston's Energy Corridor area with Susan Martin, an art teacher at Scrogins Elementary in Houston, have spent Thanksgivings together for the past three years.

This year, however, the two are celebrating separately, Chris at a family meal shared with his older brother and sister-in-law in the home of his niece and her family in Sherman, Texas.

Susan will be with her two sisters, her son and her 85-year-old mother at Landry's restaurant near Katy, just 3 miles from where her mother lives in an assisted-living facility.

"I'm thankful that during this downturn in the business, I've had gainful employment to provide a nest egg for this time that the oil industry has laid off independent contractors as well as their own staff," said Chris, 57.

"I could join other companies now, but I'm choosing to wait until I can help the industry find new reserves and uplift old reserves."

Joe Oblas, his nephew by marriage to his niece, Leslie Oblas, will be hosting the traditional feast of turkey, dressing, pumpkin pie and other goodies with other members of the family, some coming as far away as Seattle, Washington.

It's important to be together this year, Chris said, in the spirit that brought the pilgrims and Native Americans to share a table at that first Thanksgiving.

"The main thing we're thankful for this year is that Leslie has survived thyroid cancer, that it was diagnosed in time and the treatment has been successful," Chris said. "Her husband Joe has as mall upstart business he started before the downturn and he's fortunate to have a house-building business that has weathered the storm when some banks failed and some banks that said they would invest broke their contracts."

"It's been a very hard year with me in treatment, with the banks not lending," said Leslie, 37.

While Leslie was in months of treatment, her three sons, Trey, 5; Austin, 9; and Jake, 11, got the flu or a form of mononucleosis and were sent a few miles away to live with their grandfather, a 69-year-old retired Air Force officer, James Burnett, and his wife, Stephanie.

"They have all recovered nicely," said Chris, originally from the Beaumont area and a periodic songwriter.

Shadowy spots were discovered earlier this year on Susan's lungs, but so far X-rays have shown no progression.

Unlike Susan's health care coverage through an agreement with the Houston Independent School District, independent contractors like Chris have to purchase private insurance, often at high premiums.

Joining the family in Sherman will be her brother Jason and his wife, Romina Burnett, attorneys who met in law school and work together in their own firm in Seattle.

She focuses on immigration law and he is a litigator in personal and corporate law, and they are bringing the family's youngest members, a 2-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old son, from Washington state, who will be making their debut among a few of their relatives.

"My nephew, my brother's son, I haven't seen him in 15 years," Chris said. "For our family, this Thanksgiving is really special because we've survived and beaten cancer and all of our family is healthy now."