Remember when Julia forgot to the bring rolls for Thanksgiving dinner? My friends Rick and Alicia hosted dinner at their house for friends and neighbors without local families. Julia, a single friend who doesn’t cook, was assigned to bring rolls. But she forgot and acted as if it was no big deal. However, it was an effin’ big deal to our hostess Alicia! For about 15 minutes, Alicia was steaming mad alone in the kitchen. But then, her sarcastic slightly mean side took over. She quietly told every guest to ask for rolls during dinner. When they did, Alicia would look questioningly at Julia. “Why don’t you ask Julia?”

What about that one time we went to cousin Johnnie’s house for Thanksgiving? He and Evelyn and their two children were very sweet and quiet. We loved them but their idea of Thanksgiving dinner was very different from ours (we’re not very quiet.) Dinner was adequate but portions were small – one spoonful of peas, one slice of white meat, one slice of the one and only pie – apple. NO football games on TV or out in the yard. And, worse of all, no leftovers. We ate and rudely left ASAP so we could still catch the game. The next day, Mom cooked a turkey with stuffing and we pigged out on turkey/stuffing/cranberry sauce sandwiches slathered with Miracle Whip.

Remember, after dad abandoned us and we had no money for food because mom worked three jobs just to pay our rent, electricity and gas for the car. The AT&T Pioneers (voluteers) surprised us Thanksgiving morning with a turkey and everything we needed for Thanksgiving Dinner. They came again at Christmas and brought us food, clothes and toys. I was 14 years old, my twin sisters were two. I was embarrassed at first, didn’t know what to say except, “Thank you.” But, I felt good to seeing the the Pioneers so happy. I felt like I had given them a gift.

Above all, I remember we always had great Thanksgivings! Through bad times and good times, we cooked and laughed. We held hands around the table and said blessing. We ate and then ate some more. We talked, cleaned up, and sent people home with packets of leftovers. And, we were thankful to be together – rolls or no rolls.