Once again, we find ourselves on the precipice of that special time of year; a time when family and friends, many of whom will travel great distances, will gather together to re-connect, re-kindle, and to acknowledge and give thanks for those people and things that make our lives worthwhile. This span of five weeks that begins with the observance of Thanksgiving and ends as we collectively sing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ to ring in the New Year, is indeed, traditionally or otherwise, a special time.
As I reflect back to the Thanksgivings of my youth, I see images of a humble existence at our house in West Medford, Massachusetts. Our dining room was a rarely-used, unfamiliar place – unlike the kitchen, where we spent most of our waking moments as a family. The dining room was more akin to a shrine, in that it was used only twice a year – on Thanksgiving and on…