REFLECTIONS OF THANKSGIVING

     I just wanted to take a break from my crazy soap opera life to reflect on a great holiday...Thanksgiving. Lately I have felt that Thanksgiving is the "Rodney Dangerfield" of every holiday. It simply gets no respect. In fact, I noticed driving home just a few days after Halloween that not only did stores have Christmas items for sale, people in my neighborhood had Christmas lights set-up outside. It almost seems like we all want to rush into the Christmas season and forget Thanksgiving. Don't get me wrong, I know that Christmas is fun and we all love lights, Christmas trees, gifts and enjoying that wonderful Christmas spirit but what about Thanksgiving? What about taking time to thank God for what you have and for how He has blessed you?
    
     I have great memories as a kid on Thanksgiving. Growing up we would go to Grandma and Grandpa Harff's house in Secaucus, NJ. My Dad was an only child so we spent the day with my Grandparents along with my Dad's Aunt Gladys and Uncle Frank. Frank was my grandfathers brother. My Grandparents had a very small house. The houses on their block were separated by driveways and you felt like you were in Brooklyn. My Grandpa smoked cigars so the house reeked of them. I have great memories of watching football with my brother Mike, usually the Detroit Lions game at 12:30. I also remember my brother and I would sit at my Grandpa's bar in the basement and he would make us Shirley Temples or as he called them with his NJ accent "Shoiley Temples." We thought we were hot stuff sitting at the bar drinking them. While the turkey cooked, as appetizers, my Grandma made celery with cream cheese inside along with other "snacks.". My brother, sister and I devoured the celery/cream cheese treats and my Dad told us every year "You are going to spoil your appetites!!


     My Grandpa was a huge tease and loved teasing my brother and I calling us "Fair haired boys" and "Chizzler's." When we told him we played little league baseball he would always say "Nah. you play for the Bloomer Goils."  Although we knew he loved us, he was a very difficult man and we often wondered what my Grandma saw in him. She was the total opposite of him, a quiet, gentle lady. He loved to talk and didn't have a shy bone in his body. He told the same stories every year about how he and his friend Snarky went fishing and how strong Snarky was. We never met Mr. Snarky and I for one always wondered if he was real. We always enjoyed our turkey and I was a huge fan of the turkey leg. The only negative impact that holiday had on me and my family was my Grandpa's temper. He was known for fighting over the most ridiculous topics...Politics, doctors and grass....yes grass. It caused my family to shift the holiday to New York and unfortunately without Aunt Gladys and Uncle Frank. Through the years I spent Thanksgiving on Long Island, in New Jersey and in Pennsylvania. But every year I always gave thanks to God for the roof over my head, the food that He has provided, the jobs that I had, the car I drove, for my health and for my amazing family. But most importantly, I thank God for His one and only Son Jesus who died on the cross for my sins. I have never been homeless, never gone hungry and God had always taken care of me.


     So this year as you gather around your table with turkey, veggies, mashed potatoes, stuffing and an assortment of goodies for dessert, take some time to say thanks to God for all He has provided and done for you.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!