Thursday, November 26, 2020

Happy Thanksgiving 2020!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to my family, friends, readers and colleagues!

Here is my traditional Thanksgiving post and poem - with a bit more afterward:

Thanksgiving

by Edgar Albert Guest (c) 1917

Gettin' together to smile an' rejoice,
An' eatin' an' laughin' with folks of your choice;
An' kissin' the girls an' declarin' that they
Are growin' more beautiful day after day;

Chattin' an' braggin' a bit with the men,
Buildin' the old family circle again;
Livin' the wholesome an' old-fashioned cheer,
Just for awhile at the end of the year.

Greetings fly fast as we crowd through the door
And under the old roof we gather once more
Just as we did when the youngsters were small;
Mother's a little bit grayer, that's all.

Father's a little bit older, but still
Ready to romp an' to laugh with a will.
Here we are back at the table again
Tellin' our stories as women an' men.

Bowed are our heads for a moment in prayer;
Oh, but we're grateful an' glad to be there.
Home from the east land an' home from the west,
Home with the folks that are dearest an' best.

Out of the sham of the cities afar
We've come for a time to be just what we are.
Here we can talk of ourselves an' be frank,
Forgettin' position an' station an' rank.

Give me the end of the year an' its fun
When most of the plannin' an' toilin' is done;
Bring all the wanderers home to the nest,
Let me sit down with the ones I love best,

Hear the old voices still ringin' with song,
See the old faces unblemished by wrong,
See the old table with all of its chairs
An' I'll put soul in my Thanksgivin' prayers.

==============================================

Randy's Note:  The scene above is not what's happening this year in Chula Vista.  We are not with our family, but will  see them on Facetime and Duo on our smart phones and wish them a happy day and ask them what they are thankful for, and what they want for Christmas.

We will stay home and have dinner by ourselves, and watch TV and read books and I will do some family history work.  We don't need a roasted turkey and Linda can't eat out, so we will have some pork ribs and asparagus and fruit and our ice cream, and be thankful that we're warm, and safe, and well fed, albeit lonely. 

We are very thankful this year for our health, and the health and safety of our daughters and their families.  COVID-19 makes this year one for the ages and the memories, and we are determined to survive it and be with our family and friends and colleagues for ears to come, God willing.  


Copyright (c) 2020, Randall J. Seaver

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1 comment:

Jacqi Stevens said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you and Linda, Randy! I've always loved that picture, but like you, this year is different. And what a year it has been--especially considering your daughter and the Santa Cruz fires last summer. Sometimes, we don't expect to be thankful for such basics as life, health, or safety, but 2020 has reminded us. Thank you for the reminder: we do have much to be grateful for. (Just wish we could package up some "company" and send that kind of cheer to each other through the ether!)