Miller's Mumblings

Thanksgiving 2014

“Tillich drooled all the way”

Thanksgiving is here again! Maybe I can finish my Family Thanksgiving responsibility and drive to the mall on Thanksgiving evening. Why would I waste this special day? Are you willing to let Caesar run your life over a few bucks? Get serious! It will not happen. It should not happen to you.

About shopping; I only buy for one person at Christmas, just for Priscilla. She shops for the “Grands” and our dear Aunt Ronnie.  Easy for me, I call Linda Fields at Denim or Lace; Linda selects and wraps a beautiful Christmas gift.  I retrieve the gift on December 24^th.  Priscilla returns it on December 26^th.  She proceeds to select the right Christmas gift. And a Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. The right gift is under the tree on December 26^th.  

Now Pilgrims! Thanksgiving should be spent with the most wonderful people in your life. These are the folks that God has bestowed upon you! Not your clothes, your mortgaged house, the FOOD, or employment, but those unbelievable zany crazy people around you that you love- without them a part of you would die.   That is what Thanksgiving is all about!  

How I remember traveling the Taconic Parkway in our 1978 Chevy Station Wagon to reach Mother Miller’s Thanksgiving Table. There we found love in an “extended table” on the shores of Onota Lake. The children made the trip, along with Tillich, the Gordon Setter, who drooled all the way up and all the way back.   

The trip was worthy of our effort.  Wow! Mince meat pie, Ma’s homemade rolls submerged in gravy, two turkeys, yes, and turnips cooked to perfection-they all covered the table. But very special were tears of laughter, story-telling, cousin hugging, recalling grandparents, sharing elbows and napkin stealing; all these things filled the day. Dare you neglect this opportunity this Thanksgiving? Remembering is a sacrament, not to be denied.  When you get old, bald or gray, you do not have the option to recreate memories.

In our first year of marriage, there were many things to do in our new appointment to Demarest; we had just moved in with our family. We considered not making the trip home that Thanksgiving, finally we said, let’s just do it! My Dad died the following June.  It was his last Thanksgiving with us. Do not mess with the present moment. Color this Thanksgiving with togetherness and laughter. Start painting! Now only happens once.

 A Blessed Thanksgiving to you and those you love.  See you in church!