Thanksgiving Day - now and in the past.

We had a wonderful, quiet Thanksgiving yesterday. Carol's sister and brother-in-law will come here on Friday so our "Thanksgiving Dinner" will be on Sunday.

After morning Mass, we decorated the tree. Then I fixed Emily's current favorite meal, or maybe second favorite after Pad Thai.  Scalloped potatoes and ham with lots of leftovers for when Bobbie and Bill arrive.

Later in the day, Carol and Andrew made lots of cookies.


We have so much to be thankful for this year. Material things as well as heartfelt and spiritual ones.

But the main reason for this post is to answer questions about a Facebook posting I made yesterday.

"Saw a little bit of Macy's Parade while eating breakfast after Mass.

What MEMORIES of being there many years ago with John and Gwen VanderLinde and their children, Robbie and Cindy VanderLinde Gidley.
Do you guys remember the special attention that "Special Cindy" received from all the clowns in the parade?"

Many years ago John and Gwen VanderLinde and their two kids, Robbie and Cindy, friends from our earliest Salem days met us in NYC for the Macy's Day Parade. Our day started cold and drizzling a winter mix. We left our hotel around 7am to get a good spot. Right in the middle of our pre-chosen block was a big theater marquee. HOORAY - we can set up our chairs here right up against the barriers and stay dry! Cookies and thermos of hot chocolate. This was going to be a good day in spite of the weather.

As the hours passed, we laughed about the police officers also standing under the marquee drinking coffee and eating donuts.  Half an hour before the parade the streets were 8 people deep all along the route. That was when one of New York's Finest told us we would have to move. This particular theater always reserved their sidewalk for residents of a group home from Westchester County. I became VERY upset. "WHY didn't you tell us an hour or two ago when there was front row space available on either side of the marquee? Do you see the very small children we have? Will you please ask the people who have been standing in the rain for an hour to move back so we can get front rows seats like we have now? We will STAY HERE until those special guests arrive. Maybe there will be room for us behind them."

It got colder. So cold that for the first time ever theater management opened their second story offices to their guests so they could see the parade from indoors. So we were able to stay dry and cold. Very cold. But very cold and dry is a lot better than very cold and wet ! God is good.

But wait, it gets better.

Cindy, John and Gwen's daughter was three or four. She had forgotten her mittens and her little fingers were freezing. Fortunately she had a hand me down coat that was too big so she could pull her hands up into her sleeves to stay warm. Of course she was in the very front, waving her at all the balloons and characters. we noticed that all the elves and clowns seemed to be paying really special attention to Cindy. They would come from the other side of the street to give her candy and little toys. Finally it dawned on us that they had been told about this "special location" under the marquee. And, just as they had been told, there was an adorable little girl with no hands right where they had been told to look !

As Mary Ann used to say, "There IS a God. And she has a sense of humor."

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !

EMILY GRADUATES WITH HONORS !

Tuesday, June 10 was a BIG day here in Salem, VA. Our daughter graduated from Salem High School with an Honors Certificate recognizing her 3.5 GPA.  Carol and I are so proud of her.

Graduation was at 2PM in the Salem Civic Center. A little less than 300 graduates crossed the stage. We were sitting with Bobbie and Bill, Carol's sister and brother-in-law, and our friends Jim and Natalie Wade. Their daughter Courtney who is Em's BFF graduated also.  I think we were able to make enough noise to embarrass Emily and Courtney even though air horns were banned this year.

Bobbie and Bill

The party was at our house that evening.

 Jim had helped me get the rental tables and chairs early that morning. We have a big beautiful tree in our yard and had planned to be outside. Accuweather said 50% chance of thunderstorms. Weather.com said 90%. We decided to move inside. Fortunately we had 2 hours between the end of the ceremony and the start of the party. Carol described it as "the table dance." We moved the furniture out of the living room but there still wasn't room for the tables so we went back to Aztec Rental and traded for smaller ones.

 Gene and Froggie Yagow.
They were Emily's sponsors for Confirmation at Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic Church two years ago.

Jim Wade, who is Courtney's Dad with his Mom and Emily.

 OK guys, this really gets cool. Here are Gene and Froggie again. The couple sitting are Jim and Freda, friends from the Christian Motorcycle Association. Standing are Luella Crockett and her new beau, Patrick.

Here's the cool part. Luella and Patrick were students of Gene's at Community School during its first years. Luella and Patrick were 13. They had not seen Gene in over 40 years. A LOT of catching up was done.
  
Of course it never did rain. But with temperatures and humidity both in the 90's, moving inside was definitely the thing to do. Regular readers of my blog have heard this many times, but again I did exactly the right thing for totally wrong reasons.

It was a wonderful day of celebration and thanksgiving. I am so Blessed to have found this new family.