Comes in with a warmness, unusual in Florida. Normally, the weather here is chilled, at least to the 60s. What with such 80 to 90 degree weather outside, inside is the place to have air conditioning to compensate comfort. So, COOKING on Thanksgiving Day may be a chore, beyond the usual happiness; for my household – my daughter has the privilege of doing half the meal. I shall do the other half.

A glazed ham, sweet potato pie, Jell-O with fruit chunks, and the serving and dining items. Anyway it turns out, this is going to be the first time I am officially retired, awaiting something beautiful to occur. At 62 – well there’s no telling or thinking nor imagining what to expect. Most years previous there was lots of laughter, guests, and tummys filled with flatulence. So – why should this year be any different?!? Just because it is the first year that I am trying to no think of anyone deceased,

Deceased relatives and friends are a way of creeping into the heart and soul of me and many others. How to cope with that emptiness at the table, it has yet to be etched in stone. I however placed only one or two loved-one (deceased) in a category of ‘resting in a non-painful world’ to adjust from sadness and loneliness, by their empty seats.

Somehow, this year seems to be ending with a glimmer of light, for the future years that I and many others pursuit, till we too are away from the table. But for now – I thank my relatives and friends for Halloween Night’s glamour. I thank those delightful and beautifully masked and costumed kiddies and their parents, for the opportunity to photograph them – as they ‘Trick or Treated’ me and my neighbors. This was the best, non-sad holiday, for me!!!

“Thank you for the tomorrows that can bring more of the same into my life.”

And one other non-holiday Thank You – to the registered Basic Computer students, for their interest in technology without the fearfulness to decline studying, as I insist they will get-it, and be smarter than me pretty soon.