The True Meaning of Thanksgiving

This is the worst day, and best Thanksgiving I have ever had. It started just like any previous Thanksgiving. tons of hustling and preparation. The first part of the day went great, like normal, the only difference was, with my permit this year I drove the family to my Aunt's house, which she shared with my grandmother. We arrived fine, and had our typical family time. We ate and enjoyed our family time. After the meal we cleaned up and prepared to leave, this was after lunch. Then my twin brother and I drove home, me with my dad in our mozda, and my brother in our new-used *Used, but new to us* toyota avalon. We got home fine and stayed for about an hour and then left for my grandpa's on my dad's side. I drove, and we ended without incident. We left for a calm and peaceful drive home--or so we thought. We arrived at the cross-roads, about 2 miles from home, we had to go through the intersection. My brother pulled into the store at one corner of the cross-roads, and my dad got out, joking about not getting back in the car because of my brother's driving

When my dad came out of the store and got back in the car my brother rode the brake about 1/2way into the road, at which point my parents were freaking out, and my brother was too, he was able to get into his lane just in time though, so that he was sitting at the stop sign. In all his frustration and confusion, he pulled out from the stop sign, and as he could not see the road to his left because someone was parked at the store, we soon had a brush with death. We we're halfway through the intersection, and our Avalon was T-boned by a white SUV.

I was stunned, I must have went out for only a second, I looked over to my left to see my mom appearing lifeless, and my brother trying to scream in the driver seat, I saw the wrinkled doors were the metal gave way. I tried to yell, but for the first few seconds I could say nothing. Then I finally managed to yell 'Help' and then I saw my dad, and he was hysterical, he was running outside the car yelling, and first thing was I tried to get out of the car, I noticed my hand had streaks of blood on it, and a slight pain in my right hip. I had my phone in my hand when we were hit, and I was thinking about calling my girlfriend, she had told me she would call so I waited, this was before we were hit. I had my phone in my hand, and I opened it quickly to dial 911, but I glanced to my right and noticed somone already on the phone with the operator. I closed my phone and clenched it tightly. I was hysterical, I saw my mom--whom I found out was just unconcience--who appeard to be dead and I freaked, I ran to the driver side window and asked my brother if he was okay. He replied yes. I was extremely scared I ran to the other side to see someone pulling my mom out of the car, she was breathing. I was slightly relieved. I was then held by some guy, he was a stranger, I think just a witness trying to help, he led me over to a grassy area near the wreck, where I spat out small pieces of glass from my mouth. I sat in horror for at least 5 minutes watching the scene. Luckily we crashed at the cross-roads, right next to the fire station, and we had first aid immediantly. The firemen along with my dad helped move my mom, she was walking herself, but barely. They sat her down beside me and she sat up, but she wasn't responsive at all. I laid down there and watched as the firemen began to cut into the car, to remove my brother. I held my phone even tighter, as I stared behind her at the bystanders staring at the scene and saw one of my classmates, he lived right down the road from there and I knew he heard the siren on the fire station. He and his Stepmother stood with shocked expressions on their faces. I then laid down and a few minutes later two ambulances arrived. My brother was removed from the car, and my dad rode with him in the ambulance. This is while I was still laying on the ground, being strapped to a board. I held my phone with a tight grasp, I even pressed a side button to see the picture on the front, one of my girlfriend and I. Then I cried, I was worried to death, I was begging 'Tell me I'm hurt the worst', but noone did. I was lifted into the ambulance last, and I was happy about that. I kept asking once in the ambulance, about my mother and brother, all they could tell me is that they were both alert and responsive. It was good, but I still worried horribly. My phone vibrated in my hand, but when I went to answer it, the EMT took it, for my own good apparently. He said to me 'It's Tiffany', and then, 'Who's Tiffany?' I responded quickly, wishing I could have the phone. He then spoke quickly and told her that I was on the way to the hospital, worried her to death. When We got to the hospital, and I learned more about what was going on, I felt a comfort. I knew that things would be okay.

Currently I am in pain, but fine. Our car is totaled, but that is the least of worries. My mom and I were realeased from the hospital last night. I have a brused hip and a scarred hand, but I am fine. My mom had a concussion, and has several knots in her head, as well as a possible fractured leg. My brother is still in the hospital, apparently things are going well; however, he has a fractured pelvis, a small fracture in his back and a broken collar bone. I am shocked, I now thank God, one which I have not believed in for quite a while. There is no logical way that my entire family is alive. Call it luck, I call it divine intervention.

I am thankful, for my life, for my family, for support, for people who are devoted to work, even during the holidays, for the lives of my family, for everything I still have. I am thankful for the people who talked to me, helped me through this, and I am thankful, for God, who finally sent me a sign. Last night, I prayed for the first time in a very long time. This is the true purpose of Thanksgiving, being thankful for what you have, no matter how bad things seem.