Photo: (Top left to right) Bourgault Family; Bruce and Cathy Bourgault; Bruce Bourault; Jack Shull, Linda Bourgault and jeanne Bourgault; Diamond Head, Honolulu, HI; Sunset Beach, HI; Gina Watson, Shelli Ralls and Sandy Ralls; David Kicic and Andy the Piper; and Sandy Rephan and Jeanne Bourgault
One day over sixty years ago a baby girl was born to a wonderful, loving family. The baby girl's name was Paulette. Paulette died when she was only ten hours old. Her family grieved over the sudden and tragic loss of her sweet, innocent life. Time passed... I was born and abandoned. The loving family opened their hearts and took me in when I was only eight days old. They gave me a family complete with a mom, dad, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles and more. They gave me my first holiday gift of acceptance and joy and have continued to give these gifts for fifty-eight years with the promise to continue every minute of every day.
Over the years there were many challenges. My family had to fight to keep me. They could have taken the easy way out, but they persisted, endured and finally succeeded in keeping me with them. They were with me through many illnesses, hospital stays and surgeries. My mom was home every day when I returned from school. She gave me the gifts of perseverance, respect and unconditional love. My dad worked two jobs and gave me the gifts of knowing that giving is better than receiving, integrity and responsibility. My oldest sister gave me the gifts of independence, humility and honesty. My second sister gave me the gifts of generosity, help with my education and how to have fun. All together they gave me the greatest gifts—acceptance, joy and love—every holiday and every minute of every day.
My mom and dad traveled thousands of miles to be with me on my wedding day. My mom knew intuitively the day I miscarried when I was 12,000 miles away. My sisters were with me when our mom and dad died. My sisters helped me when I was divorced after twenty-one years of marriage. They were with me for my second wedding. One of them sent her daughter to be with me when my husband was dying in Hawaii. The same sister traveled thousands of miles to be with me after my husband died and helped me with his "Celebration of Life." My family and friends comforted me while I grieved my husband's passing and gave me—again—the gift of acceptance and joy during the first holidays without him and every minute and every day since.
During this year's Thanksgiving holiday I was with my sister and family in Spring, Texas. We talked story about the loss of those we love over the past year and shared their extraordinary lives with one another. Once again I received the wondrous gift of holiday acceptance and joy.
My second husband, Bruce, and the love of my life was a mortgage banker. He foresaw the decline in the housing market and our national financial crisis. When he was diagnosed with cancer I became his voice as his loan officer assistant. He encouraged me to become a certified loss mitigation consultant. I was able to keep my head above water financially after his death because of the foreclosure and short sale experience I had received. However, it wasn't enough to maintain our home in Hawaii. Through an exceptional Realtor and my experience as a loss mitigation consultant I was able to close a successful short sale on our home. This in turn allowed me to relocate and return to my family and friends on the mainland.
Even though I had no children of my own my husband gave me another family—two daughters and a son. Through their marriages they gave us five grandchildren. My heart leaps whenever any of them calls me "Tutu Linda," grandmother in Hawaiian. The holidays were always very special to us. One of our favorite things was to give one another "the greatest, most wonderful Christmas present in the world." The gift consisted of something small costing $10.00 or less. The gifts were always something silly, funny and entertaining. Yet the greatest holiday gifts he gave to me and every minute of every day were the gifts of love, acceptance and joy.
This holiday finds me living in a new place closer to my family and friends. I'm helping my family to promote S.A.D., Stop Aggressive Driving, and P.A.R.A., Parents Against Reckless Driving, polishing my photography skills, continuing to guide those needing to avoid foreclosures and short sales, gradually establishing a new business and volunteering at a local church which serves several charitable foundations. Through the support of family, friends and business associates I continue to receive the holiday gifts of acceptance and joy.
My life today is due in part, directly and indirectly, to members of Activerain. I would not be the person I am without you. My holiday wish for all is to receive the gifts of holiday acceptance and joy and share it with everyone you meet every minute of every day.
Mahalo to my Ohana and everyone at Activerain, Happy Holidays and Mele Kalekemaka!
Copyright by Linda Bourgault, 2008. All rights reserved.
Comments(18)