Thanksgiving - And Traditions

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
Date: Nov 24 2016 8:27 PM

This week thinking about THANKSGIVING has had me stressed out. If I am to be totally honest, I have not looked forward to this holiday whatsoever.

One reason is that I believe that I have failed my family. But when I think about it, I do not think I am alone.

Over the decades of the family, THANKSGVING was enjoyable. It was fun.

Many years we would taken the motor home, travel to Orange Beach to Jim and Peggy Hardy's house. Normally arriving in the night of Thanksgiving eve, backing the motor home in the yard, spending the night.

On Thanksgiving Day we would get up and begin socializing. Both Jim and Jeff Hardy were up early on grills. Both Peggy and her mother were up busy getting things ready. And as the morning progressed family would arrive.

The kids would play, go across the street to the bay, in and out of the motorhome.

By the end of the day we would load up in the motorhome and start home. We stopped wherever I got tired. I would sleep the entire night or take a nap. Then we finished the trip home.

Then my sister, Sandra and Terry Walden would normally prepare Thanksgiving with my family a few days after THANKSGIVING.

A couple of years Spencer and I took the motorhome and traveled to Gainesville to a huge motorcross race. And that was a lot of fun.

Then in 2009, life made a dramatic change. The lives of the inlaws tragically ended. And that was a life changing event for all of the family.

The next Thankgiving and Christmas some of the traditions tried to continue. But that phased out.

Now my mother has passed away. My sister's husband Terry passed away. Jim Hardy has passed. Peggy's health is not the best in the world.

And life and the THANKSGVING of the past are gone.

I struggled with what to do to make THANKSGIVING a holiday that my children and grandson Brantley would always remember. Received some invitations I would have "loved" to have accepted but certain circumstances would not allow.

So this morning I went to the office at 11. Met everyone at ( the six of us ) at Cracker Barrel. Went to the house for a few. Later John Curtis, Brantley and I went to Cottonwood to shoot skeet.

THIS ARTICLE IS NOT ABOUT POOR PITIFUL ME

This article is written because it has caused me to reflect. And those reflections are how life has changed for so many people. And how the young people of today do not get the "family" memories they once had.

It has caused me to reflect how lives have recently changed with the death of loved ones over the past several weeks and months. And how their THANKSGIVING has changed.

And it does make me THANKSFUL for life. The challenges and enjoyments it brings. And life's circumstances cause you to make dramatic changes in your live and the memories for your children.

THANKSGIVING is over. CHRISTMAS is approaching. And new traditions for Christmas.

But, THANKS be to the HEAVENLY FATHER for the blessings he provides to each of us.

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