Cup O’ Joe: A time to give thanks

The holidays are now officially upon us. It’s a cliché for sure, but time does really seem to go faster the older we get.
Thanksgiving has long been one of my favorite holidays because it combines two things I enjoy immensely — eating and football. What’s not to like about that? Gathering with family and friends for a bountiful meal of turkey with all the fixings.
    We typically have our meal in the mid-afternoon. The premise is that by having a meal at 2 p.m. that large meal will hold us over until morning. But what usually happens is plenty of snacking before the meal, preferably shrimp rings or bean and salsa dips, and a return to the snacking later in the evening after the turkey nap has worn off.
For years, when we lived in Thomaston, Thanksgiving was held at our house, with either set of parents coming down to the coast to spend the day with us. That was a pretty good setup. It was during this time that I came up with the “My House, My Rule” manifesto. It was the first time in my adult life that I was actually able to use that rule instead of my father and I relished it. If I wanted to spend the day sitting in front of the television for the annual tradition of watching the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys in back-to-back games, so be it.
Once children came into the picture, things became more family oriented. We started a tradition of putting up the Christmas decorations on Thanksgiving weekend and would often go to a cut-your-own Christmas tree farm in search of the “perfect” tree.
While there remains much unrest with the economy, there is still plenty to be thankful for this holiday season. For me, I am thankful for my health and the health of my family. We know others who are struggling with family illnesses this year, and it has served as a not-so-subtle reminder that time is precious and we should enjoy every moment.
I am thankful that I have a loving wife who puts up with all the things that I do that annoy her (like writing about our lives for everyone to read about each week). I am thankful for two happy and healthy children who amaze me on a daily basis with their development.
I am thankful that my parents get to spend time almost on a daily basis with my children. Many grandparents wish they had this luxury. I am also thankful for the friends that I have been able to reconnect with since moving back to the Shiretown, and for the ones that I have been able to stay close with who no longer live here.
I also asked members of the Houlton Pioneer Times staff to share some of the things they are thankful for this holiday season. Here are their responses:
Dave Russell
“I am thankful for the new person in my life. I am thankful for discovering new parts of the country. And I am also thankful for my continued good health after surgery.”
Gloria Austin
“I am thankful for a faith heritage instilled in me. Through the years, I’ve learned much about faith and sometimes, how little I have and how far I have to go. I am grateful for my family legacy and the values instilled within me. I am thankful for my own family, a husband and son, who fulfill me.
“I am also thankful for those I work side-by-side with, along with my friends, who are wacky and a bit crazy like me.”
Dave Bates
“I am thankful for my town, the town of Houlton, and for all of those that make it such a great place to live and work. To those who serve and protect our community, town officials, police, fire fighters, the first responders; and our merchants and business owners who believe and invest in Houlton. I am also grateful for our churches and civic groups that graciously give to support those in need. Most of all I am thankful to our great God that orchestrates it all, may His favor rest upon our community.”
Wanda MacIlroy
“When Joe asked me to write what I was thankful for at Thanksgiving, so many things came to mind — too many to list actually. But if I had to put a few on paper, here they are. I am thankful for my God, who is so gracious to me. I am thankful for my family and their continued good health.
“Finally, I am thankful for my job and co-workers.
“Happy Thanksgiving to each of you.”
Joseph Cyr is a staff writer for the Houlton Pioneer Times. He can be reached at pioneertimes@nepublish.com or 532-2281.