TOMORROW IS THANKSGVING

Some reflections on this day....

Shopping in crowded grocery store
John and I braved this yesterday afternoon. We were just past the produce, heading for the bulk section, “conferring who gets what” when the young family with four little children pulled up next to us, and the father yelled, “WYATT.” We both jumped and turned to see who was so upset with us. What we saw was a 4-year-old boy jumping higher and harder than we. As the father instructed, “Watch where you are going!”
By then, both parents were staring at us, wondering why we had entered their private moment of instruction. “That’s our last name,” I explained as I looked over my shoulder maneuvering past the aisle cleanup ahead.

One lady was shopping for black cherry Jello. She was riding on her own, private, motorized chair, pushing a grocery cart beside her. Whatever aisle she was shopping was almost completely blocked. People were parking their carts at the end of the aisle, saying “excuse me,” and grabbing their item from the shelves around her. The blocker decided to help me look for lemon Jello for making Thelma Cameron’s cranberry relish. I think I convinced her that the picture of cherries on the box of cherry-flavored gelatin looked really dark to me.

Child/children to help make the cranberry relish
We used to have one child turn the handle on Mother’s grinder. However, whoever volunteers for this labor of love is eager to get back to their book or movie or music so we now feed everything through the Kitchen Aid grinder. I don’t think I even have the hand grinder anymore. This year’s relish will be made with orange Jello.

Two more days
Day after tomorrow, we are allowed to listen to Christmas music. We can sing along at the top of our lungs or even make up our own tunes. Memaw can search for where she stored those tapes of silly songs and spiritual music. And we can try, once again, to sing some of them in a round. BEGIN… “Little toy train; little toy track…” JUMP IN… “Little toy trains; little toy track…” NEXT… “Little toy trains; little Santa’s Sack…” Already, we are holding our sides with laughter.

Oh, yes…the meal
The table is heaping with bounty. Patty now provides the homemade jelly. At last, we will all come to the table. The person to Papa John’s right tells what they are most thankful for at this moment. After everyone has shared, he gives thanks to the Provider of Life.

It is a time to GIVE THANKS for food, family, and friends, and probably shed a tear or two for joyous and painful memories, realizing the year 2008 is nearing its end. We pray for our country and the year ahead.

Teach God's commandments to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Deuteronomy 11:19, New International Version

STONE SOUP

There is among our friends a group of (mostly) ladies who get together occasionally to play Mexican Train. The routine is to meet at noon and begin playing immediately. Nuts, candies, and snacks are set out for munching. However, the focus is not on the food; it is on the game. After the game is played, and only then, a meal is served.
This week, I decided to host this group. The problem is that these ladies do not drive at night, and darkness comes rather quickly around 5 p.m. Some have expressed concern that cooking a meal is too much of a burden to put on the person who voluntarily opens her home. Anyone who knows me well knows I prefer to take an easy way to accomplish any task. And today’s Mexican Train gathering is no exception.
· The first lady I invited said, “Let me bring something to contribute to the meal.”
· The next lady said, “Don’t go to all the work of preparing a meal.”
· And the third person said, “What can I contribute?”
By the time I called the fourth person, I had decided to keep the food very simple. Stew is easy to prepare, perfect for cold weather, and can be packaged in quart jars to transport leftovers. But still the ladies did not want to impose. So, I declared the recipe for the meal is Stone Soup. I have made Nail Soup in the past, but it is far inferior to a soup base prepared with my special, aged rock.
The stone I use came from the Mendenhall Glacier many years ago. It is dark gray in color…almost black. Its shape and size are that of an egg. It used to be smooth, but now it contains small chips and pocks caused from years of use. Long ago, it was used to strike matches for lighting kindling in our fireplace, but it is no longer useful for that.
I boiled the stone (and a few seasonings) for a little while. Lady #1 brought carrots; #2 onions, #3 celery, and #4 potatoes. Removing the stone from the pot, I add all the contributed ingredients and allow the stew to steep. The aroma of a stew stirred with God’s “Love one another” verses permeates the air.

Now, back to the game.