thanksgiving | dual personalities

November 27, 2017

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise”*

by chuckofish

I love four-day weekends! There is enough time to do what you need to do, and a little time left over at the end to get one’s head in order for the new week.

Our weekend was super-fun and full of family. We pulled off the Thanksgiving feast without a major flaw.

We fit ten adults and two wee babes at the table.

We mixed and matched our china and crystal to make it work. The food was all ready at the same time and was yummy. The beer and wine flowed freely.

The wee babes were as entertaining as usual.

So many skills.

But, of course, what would a holiday be without an emergency call for some broken appliance or downed system?

The thermostat broke and we had no heat, so that had to be fixed on Thanksgiving morning! Later in the weekend our washing machine broke and that one is pending. C’est la vie.

On Friday, daughter #1 and I brought up a lot of Christmas stuff from the basement. We decorated the mantel.

We also had lunch with our best buds at our favorite restaurant Cafe Osage.

And we did a little local shopping on Small Business Saturday.

Screen Shot 2017-11-26 at 12.52.23 PM.png We even sat outside and drank a beer on the patio–it was that warm–and listened to the symphony of leaf blowers in the neighborhood! Anyway, it was a glorious weekend combining friends, family, shopping, cooking, walking outside, decorating, movie-watching–all our favorite things.

Now it is Monday and time to face the music of another work week. Onward and upward.

*Psalm 100:4

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November 22, 2017

Come, ye thankful people, come

by chuckofish

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Today I am taking a half day at work, followed by a 4-day weekend. Huzzah.

My nephew Tim is driving in today from Crawfordsville, Indiana, and so is daughter #1 from Columbia. I will be in the kitchen cooking–terra incognita, for sure. But maybe we will have a dance party.

8f6180883df0ad438082a92665a38151--vintage-thanksgiving-thanksgiving-dinners.jpg As you are celebrating Thanksgiving with your family and friends tomorrow, keep in mind what Joyce Meyer says: “Go home, and let all your relatives off the potter’s wheel. You are not the potter!”

Relax. Have a great day. Watch Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

or Miracle on 34th Street (1947).

Count your blessings. Life is good.

Don’t look so surprised!

Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God!
He, whose Word cannot be broken,
Formed thee for His own abode;
On the Rock of Ages founded,
What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation’s walls surrounded,
Thou mayst smile at all thy foes.

–John Newton, Anglican Hymn

3 Comments

November 17, 2017

Friday? Oh hell yes

by chuckofish

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The end of another week. After a big work event today, I will be ready for a low-key weekend and a tall glass of wine tonight.

As it is November and we are approaching Thanksgiving with alarming rapidity, I have been thinking about gratitude. I am grateful for and proud of my scholarly academic relatives, including daughter #2 who just had her first scholarly article published in a scholarly journal: “Sentimentalism and Secularism in Pierre” in Leviathan: A Journal of Melville Studies. (I cannot even spell “sentimentalism”…spellcheck corrected me.)

She has been working diligently to finish her dissertation and we are praying hard for her. She won’t be home for Thanksgiving, but we’ll be thinking of her and looking forward to seeing her at Christmas.

I am also grateful for Dierbergs Market which will be cooking our Thanksgiving turkey for us.

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I’m sure they will do a heck of a job. I will be doing my best to rustle up my cheesy potato casserole and open a can of cranberry sauce ee99e6f9-eb1a-430d-a68d-0558cefba577_1.402270de716c2fe121299c317d2d79cc

and pop some crescent rolls in the oven.

Screen Shot 2017-11-17 at 6.27.35 AM I will be counting on others to bring the rest. I am grateful for the ten adults who are coming and for the two wee babes who will join us at the table.

Did someone say cranberry sauce?

So this weekend I will be readying the house for overnight guests (daughter #1 and my nephew Tim from Indiana) and the dining room for the feast. I am grateful for the opportunity to do this. Time to get out the china and the crystal and the festive tablecloth. Time to iron the napkins and arrange the centerpiece.

I am looking forward to our annual viewing of Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) on Thanksgiving, so tonight my movie pick is for something else from the John Candy/Steve Martin oeuvre: Uncle Buck (1989) or The Great Outdoors (1988); Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982)–something along those lines that will help us get in the holiday state of mind.

Also, this obit for a flyover collector was interesting.

Have a great weekend!

9 Comments

November 24, 2016

Blessed assurance

by chuckofish

¹¹Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. ¹²As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy^[b] met him. They stood at a distance ¹³and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

¹⁴When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

¹⁵One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. ¹⁶He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

¹⁷Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? ¹⁸Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” ¹⁹Then he said to him,“Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17: 11–19)

Well, at least today we should be openly thankful. It is culturally acceptable and all that.

My plans are simple. I will read in bed for awhile

before engaging in parade watching while drinking a mimosa by myself and toasting my daughters who are celebrating elsewhere. Do mimosas go with donuts?

Later in the day the OM and I will travel over the river and through the woods to the boy’s house where daughter #3 is serving dinner,

after which we will indulge in our traditional Thanksgiving entertainment, watching that flyover favorite, Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1986).

So count your blessings today and every day and

Happy Thanksgiving!

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November 17, 2016

Thanks—joyful thanks!

by chuckofish

Here we are halfway through November and Thanksgiving is a week from today! Let’s get serious about having thankful thoughts! Here’s some Walt Whitman to help with that.

Thanks in old age—thanks ere I go,

For health, the midday sun, the impalpable air—for life, mere
life,

For precious ever-lingering memories, (of you my mother dear
—you, father—you, brothers, sisters, friends,)

For all my days—not those of peace alone—the days of war the
same,

For gentle words, caresses, gifts from foreign lands,

For shelter, wine and meat—for sweet appreciation,

(You distant, dim unknown—or young or old—countless, un-
specified, readers belov’d,

We never met, and ne’er shall meet—and yet our souls embrace,
long, close and long;)

For beings, groups, love, deeds, words, books—for colors, forms,

For all the brave strong men—devoted, hardy men—who’ve for-
ward sprung in freedom’s help, all years, all lands,

For braver, stronger, more devoted men—(a special laurel ere I
go, to life’s war’s chosen ones,

The cannoneers of song and thought—the great artillerists—the
foremost leaders, captains of the soul:)

As soldier from an ended war return’d—As traveler out of
myriads, to the long procession retrospective,

Thanks—joyful thanks!—a soldier’s, traveler’s thanks.

–Walt Whitman, 1888-89

The paintings are by John McCartin, Patrick William Adam, Bruce Yardley, and Mark O’Neill. Pretty pictures always help, right?

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November 26, 2015

Giving thanks

by chuckofish

“I have just four words to leave with you. Four words that have spoken volumes of truth into my life.’

He wanted the words to stay in the room, to remain long after he had gone. Though no one wished to hear Paul’s radical injunction, it had to be told.

‘In everything, give thanks.’

This was the lifeboat in any crisis. Over and over again, he had learned this, and over and over again, he had to be reminded.”

–Jan Karon, In This Mountain

Here’s something to read if you’ve forgotten the difference between Pilgrims and Puritans.

And here’s a prayer for the day in case, like me, your plans don’t include church today.

Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

–Thanksgiving Day collect, BCP

[The first painting is by Anna S. Fisher, c. 1922; the second by David Reidel, b. 1956]

6 Comments

November 25, 2015

Swiftly fly the years

by chuckofish

As you know, we are a family that loves our traditions. For the last twenty-five or so years, we have watched Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) every Thanksgiving.

We will happily watch it this year.

We will watch (some of) the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and probably Miracle on 34th Street (1947) at some point over the weekend.

We might watch The Wizard of Oz (1939) which, when I was growing up, was always shown on television the night of Thanksgiving.

We are not a family that brings out the musical instruments when everyone is gathered. (Sadly, we can’t do that.) And we don’t play games. We tend to open up the DVD cabinet. À chacun son goût.

We will also celebrate the boy’s birthday this weekend and marvel at how that little tyke grew up into a fine young man.

Ah, sunrise, sunset!

Oy.

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November 23, 2015

“Let the ‘amen’ sound from His people again”*

by chuckofish

Sometimes we get caught up in all the things that are wrong with the world. And there are plenty. Like this. Sigh.

But we must remind ourselves how blessed we really are every day.

This past weekend I spent a lot of time puttering around my house, taking stock of what I have squirreled away for Christmas and what I still need to get. I found the Christmas cards I bought after Christmas last year–that sort of thing.

I talked to my daughters and dual personality on the phone. The OM and I had dinner with some old friends. Indeed, it was a quiet weekend.

We watched The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming (1966) which never ceases to amuse me.

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The OM and I in a few years

We also watched Edge of Darkness (1943) a war movie about a small Norwegian fishing village rising up and revolting against the occupying Nazis.

Partisans dig their own graves in “The Edge of Darkness”

It was surprisingly edgy and well done I thought. I mean it is blatantly propagandistic and the sets are terrible, but dreamy Errol Flynn is ably supported by a good ensemble cast and you have to love a movie where the peaceful town minister comes through in a way that would make the Sons of Anarchy proud.

Anyway, I am counting my blessings this week and always.

Some leaves are still hanging on in the ‘hood.

I am thankful for TCM and our DVR, not to mention Netflix and streaming cable television shows. I am thankful for old friends and good books and Coffee Nips and red wine. I am thankful for my laptop and online shopping and Christmas cactus and being able to turn the heat on when the temperatures go down. I am thankful for being able to go down to the basement and do my laundry when I want to and that we could just go out and buy a new refrigerator when the old one conked out last week. These are things I do not take for granted.

Have a good week–only 2 1/2 days of work–and don’t forget to count your blessings!

*Joachim Neander, hymn #390 “Praise to the Lord the Almighty”

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November 21, 2015

“This gentleman has been standing alone against the world!”*

by chuckofish

Last week son number 3 made his acting debut as juror number 9 in “12 Angry Men” (hey! 9 + 3 = 12 Is that significant?). His brother described juror number 9 to his mom, who has not read the play or seen the movie, as “the wise and observant, elderly one.” So here’s a pic of my very own wise, observant and elderly son:

I gather they colored his hair and beard to make him look older. It’s funny, but with light hair he looks a lot like brother #2. I can’t imagine how he managed to fit a play in with all the other things he does. He is so much better organized than I am!

By contrast, I have no turkey or Thanksgiving decorations yet. Still, I’m very excited that two of my boys are coming home for a few days and I will make every effort to feed them plenty of holiday appropriate food. I like Thanksgiving. It’s not a big deal in our house, but it’s not the dreaded family get together of lore. What can I say? We like each other. But if you need something to liven a boring Thanksgiving up, maybe this poem by Alfred Noyes will give you some ideas:

Everyone grumbled. The sky was grey.
We had nothing to do and nothing to say.
We were nearing the end of a dismal day,
And there seemed to be nothing beyond,
THEN
Daddy fell into the pond!

And everyone’s face grew merry and bright,
And Timothy danced for sheer delight.
‘Give me the camera, quick, oh quick!
He’s crawling out of the duckweed.’
Click!

Then the gardener suddenly slapped his knee,
And doubled up, shaking silently,
And the ducks all quacked as if they were daft
And is sounded as if the old drake laughed.

O, there wasn’t a thing that didn’t respond
WHEN
Daddy fell into the pond!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, with or without aquatic high-jinks!

*”12 Angry Men”

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November 27, 2014

Count your blessings or “Are you saying I could be stuck in Wichita?”

by chuckofish

N.C. Wyeth

Whether you are entertaining a large group or a very small one like me, enjoy the day.

We’ll miss daughters #1 and #2 who are staying put this holiday.

We’ll miss you! Can’t wait ’til Christmas!

In the meantime we’ll raise a glass (or two) to absent friends and loved ones! And then we’ll watch our favorite Thanksgiving movie starring these two guys: