When I was a young girl, we spent Thanksgiving at my grandparents' farm, just a few miles away from our Lancaster, PA suburban home. My mom and dad would often catch up on outdoor work in the morning, while the rest of us prepared the meal, the house, and the dining table for later. My strongest memories of those early Thanksgivings are walking the meadows with my dad (sometimes he hunted, most times he didn't) and picking up black walnuts with whomever was brave enough for the job (we used to wear plastic bags on our hands so they wouldn't get black from the smutzy shells). After the quiet morning away from regular work and school, the family gathered in the old farmhouse kitchen for my Grandma's delicious Thanksgiving meal. My favorite part was the hot rolls and later, the fresh apple pie with Turkey Hill Big Chief vanilla ice cream. Of course, the "Big Chief" name has long since vanished, along with the black walnuts, but my memories remain. Memories of clean, stark fall landscapes, a warm farmhouse, and caring family times. And for those, I'm deeply thankful.

This Thanksgiving season, I encourage each of us to remember past holidays and then share those memories with others...to give a simple moment of gratitude to another.

-Carolyn

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