I Am Thankful...

For several things that begin with the letter "F" and other things;

Faith, Family, Friends, Food, Famous Amos cookies, my house, my job, my car, and my brown dog named Chili.

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Thanksgiving Day 2007 was a comfortable, pleasant experience. It was a small gathering at my parents' house in Festus. Just them, me, and the bro/sis-in-law/niece-still-in-the-oven for dinner. MY dad smoked the turkey in my brother's new smoker and it turned out very well. We all stuffed ourselves appropriately then sprawled out on any nearby couch or chair. Chili behaved herself for the most part. She did get some turkey.

As we were all leaving this evening, my dad remarked that he'd had a "perfect day." His turkey was great, he got to play with his grand-dog, he had all of us around, and he even got to see a little football on the big screen TV with the surround-sound hooked up again. It had been down since being moved around during the re-decorating of their basement. My dad and bro and I collaborated to hook up the speakers and get everything in working order.

We waxed nostalgic briefly, as an old Bell & Howell 8mm film projector was hauled out and turned on for a little stroll down memory lane. We managed to see two short films of my brother and me as children before the projector's ancient light bulb gave out. What else to do but hop on the Internet and order up a new one from Amazon.com? Who knew you could still find one?

Now I must go pack for a short trip down to the Bootheel to do Thanksgiving with my Dad's family in the bustling metropolis of Risco, MO. Chili will be traveling with me but she will be spending the day with the grandparents in Malden.