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That simple question has been profound in the life that my wife and I have achieved together. Just a few years after we were married, we found ourselves alone at Thanksgiving. We had moved to Winston-Salem, NC a few months earlier so that I could start my pediatric training after medical school. Our only child at that time was a toddler. We had not made plans to spend that day with anyone else and no one had asked us to join them. So we went to the K&W cafeteria and joined about two thousand other patrons for a somewhat celebratory meal. There were two long lines extending out of the door, slowly moving through the cafeteria. The food was as tasty as it could be, but it was a sad day.
We swore that that would never happen again. Ever since that day we always asked anyone who we think might be alone what they were doing for Thanksgiving. Every year has been a revelation and a renewed joy. Some years we have had over twenty people sharing chaos and good food. Each year is different but every year is special.
What are you doing for Thanksgiving? I urge you to share it with not only the friends and family you love but also with that acquaintance who perhaps hasn't been invited anywhere yet. You won't know what that person is doing for Thanksgiving until you ask.
Discussion (10)
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I like where this went. Thank you.
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As I finished this beautiful essay I was struck by a panicked thought.
For background: I am a member of the committee that will be responsible for hurrying the essential Ricochet authors into a bomb-proof residence beneath an undisclosed resort somewhere in the hills of West Virginia, should things go south.
I could not remember seeing Southern Pessimist on The List!
I scurried to the safe to retrieve the document and sure enough…not there.
And this just a day after a similar incident when I read a post by Keith Lowery!
Anyway, we’re good to go now.
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We have done this several times over the years. As an introvert, I don't always find it as enjoyable as my wife does but can tell that those invited had a good time. That I did enjoy.
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Eating, drinking, watching football . . .
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Since Thanksgiving is a national holiday, I think the NFL should be required to honor Barry Sanders with an hour long feature film of the best Barry Sanders plays of all time. Show it every year on Thanksgiving Day.
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