All Kinds of Thanksgivings

Today I took my uncle and mother to Western Sizzlin for the Thanksgiving buffet. It was a task; no handicapped parking available, had to let them out and seek a parking space. Mama is 92 and arthritic, somtimes unsteady on her feet. Uncle Reuben is almost 85 and carries himself on crutches as he has for over 80 years, since crippled by polio.

I finally got them inside and settled at a table next to a wall to accommodate my uncle's crutches. Mama, of course, was about to take her purse through the buffet line (sort of like Queen Elizabeth), when I placed my own purse in the center of the table and turned to the couple across from us in a booth. They said they would be there for a while and would keep an eye on our purses. After following Mama back, steadying her, from the buffet with my own plate, I then returned to carry my uncle's since that's difficult to do with crutches.

Shortly after the couple, who by the way were averagely dressed in jeans, sweatshirts and jackets, rose to leave. The husband stopped and said something to me that I didn't quite understand over the din, then said "Happy Thanksgiving". I replied in kind. A few minutes later the wife returned, handed me a receipt, and said "Your dinners are paid for. Happy Thanksgiving!" And then disappeared while I sat there with my mouth open in shock.

I had been thinking of other Thanksgivings. gone forever now. Thanksgivings with my Gran's mincemeat pie, my Mama's turkey, Aunt Rena's green beans, Granny Morris' fried Silver Queen corn, and my Aunt Pearl's "wet" dressing. I'd been thinking how my family would never again gather around one or two big tables with everyone's favorite dish on the table. All of them but two are now gone. Big dinners exist only in my memories now.This year I am grateful that those memories are mine to keep.

And I'm grateful also to the anonymous couple, whose random act of kindness, showed me that while the warmth of an old-fashioned Thanksgiving may be denied me, the warmth of caring strangers offers new traditions with the family of man. It spurred me to leave a larger than usual tip. Maybe when we realize that human beings are a family of a kind, we can broaden our outlook. Maybe random acts of kindness are the beginnings. Maybe it will be the thing that keeps us going....
Thanksgiving 2010