Holiday Tradition

I drove to work on Thursday afternoon, and smiled several times as I saw the scenes of Thanksgiving: cars piled onto yards at houses that are already brimming with life; families piled into minivans and SUVs, on their way to someone special's house; empty parking lots, both at places of business, and at apartment complexes like the one where my wife and I live; and even families out together--riding ATVs, or enjoying the day off and the warm weather in South Carolina.
It doesn't really bother me that I am at work today. It's quiet here in the newsroom, and I can still watch football, and I have everything I need to get my job done. I feel bad for my wife, frankly. It's our first Thanksgiving together, period, and she is at home with the cat, cooking up a nice pot of white chicken chili that we will enjoy later. She is far away from her parents and brother, gathering in Texas later today.
At least we'll get together with the crazy Ray clan on Saturday. Plenty of good food will be consumed on that day.
The other thing that brought a smile to my face this afternoon was a simple phone call.
It's my favorite Thanksgiving tradition, save Mom's cranberry-jello masterpiece (aka "pink stuff").
It's talking to my good friend Mike.
It all started probably eight or nine years ago, when Mike and I would be home from college and he would inevitably come over to my parents house in Mt. Airy, Maryland on Thanksgiving night, and we would all sit around and talk and laugh, and I began to look forward to it. Even when I moved down to Lumberton, and I would go home, Mike would be there.
Now, my parents live back in their home of Wilmington, North Carolina, and we don't see Mike much anymore.
So, the past couple of years, I've made it a point to call him on Thanksgiving Day.
Today's conversation was brief, but it made me feel better about the day.
He was busy teaching his twin five-year-old nephews how to toss a football, and the family was close to meal time, but we got in the pleasantries all the same.
It's not much, but it's one of my holiday traditions.
My wife and I have much to be thankful for this holiday season: a beautiful, blessed marriage,great jobs, loving and healthy families, and the rest of our lives to start our own, new Thanksgiving traditions.
Happy Holidays, and stay cool and drive safe out there!

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