It is by far the grandest of all special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter. – John Muir

In this season of gratitude, I am grateful to be spending Thanksgiving in Yosemite National Park with my husband, Rich and my sister, Eileen and her family. Sorry my brother Pat can’t make it as he is snowbound in Buffalo, NY. John Muir had it right; “it is a special temple” and always inspiring. Yosemite is a bit short on water this year with the California drought, but as Ansel Adams said there is “always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space.” So a great space to celebrate another year of good health, travel experiences and supportive friends and family.

I won’t be climbing Half Dome, but I sure will enjoy hiking and being with some of my family. Just wish my sister, Loretta, could be here too. She visited Yosemitein 1970, just a year before she died from CF when she was just 21 years old. It was on her bucket list. I am grateful to have had her in my life for those 21 years and many Thanksgivings. Pictured left to right in 1969, Loretta, Eileen and Barbara. Bother Pat must have been out playing football.

With much to be thankful for, I list a few prominent highlights of this year.

I am blessed to live in California where I can engage in outdoor exercise year round: lap swimming, walking or golfing. It is all good and keeps me healthy.

I am grateful that finally I have good care from Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital CF Center. With a late CF diagnosis at age sixty-four (64), I have been diligent about doing my treatments; even though they are inconvenient, especially when traveling. I don’t want to slide back to where I was five (5) years ago with reduced lung capacity and frequent pneumonia. Each breath and new day matters.

This year my husband and I celebrated our 40 th Wedding Anniversary with a trip to Germany and Austria. We picked up a new car in Munich for traveling to Bavaria and the Tryolean Alps. I was healthy enough to hike in the Alps.

I have continued to enjoy my volunteer involvement with CFLF and observing the growth in recreation grants awarded through the Loretta Morris Memorial Fund established in 2010. This year 39 grants were awarded to CF patients across the country bringing the total number of grants over the four (4) years to seventy (70). Loretta would be pleased and her spirit is with all the grant recipients.

I am most grateful to the forty-four (44) donors to Loretta Morris Memorial Fund who make the grant giving possible. I truly appreciate the support of Brian Callanan, CFLF Founder and Executive Director and Erin Evans, Program Coordinator who manages the grant program.

I extend to all CF patients and families a Happy Thanksgiving. You may not be able to get to Yosemite but wherever you are breathe deeply and live fully with your family and friends.

Living Stronger! Living Longer!

*Barbara Morris Harison lives in Ventura, CA. She serves on the CFLF Board as Treasurer. She was diagnosed with CF at age sixty four (64). She lost a sister to CF forty-three (43) years ago. Barbara is now retired after a long career in public parks and recreation administration and later managing her own management consulting business Harison & Associates for twenty (20) years.