A Month of Celebrations

By the time you read this, the month of November will most likely have already brought us two very important days.

On Nov. 4 — Election Day — we cast our vote for the people we believed are the most qualified to govern this country — from the President of the United States to the local animal control officer. It is my fervent hope that you exercised your right to vote in a free country — the greatest in the modern world.

On Nov. 11 — Veterans Day — we took time to honor those who have served our country in the military. Having been raised during the Vietnam era, I am well aware of the sacrifices those in uniform have made and continue to make. I salute their dedication and service in times of war and of peace.

One important day remains to be celebrated — Nov. 27, Thanksgiving Day. Personally, it is my favorite holiday because it is the time when the entire family gets together for great conversations and great food. I look forward to the yearly re-bonding with true family feeling and without expectations of gifts. I will get to drink a glass of wine, smoke a cigar and talk with my kids and in-laws about everything from sports and politics to music and the grandchildren. At some point, the grandkids will put on a rock show in the music studio, beating on the drums, playing the guitar and singing a song — none of which quite hangs together, but makes me proud of their effort and fearlessness.

Thanksgiving is also the time when we should remember who we are and where we came from. It has been nearly 400 years since English settlers celebrated their arrival in the New World with a day of thanksgiving, but many have followed and continue to follow in their footsteps. Remembering that gives me a real sense that my family reaches out farther than my personal one. All of the families here in this free country at some point in time made the journey and now share in the bounties. So let us all, as one large family, give thanks for each other and the country we live in. There is truly no place like home. A Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Regards,


     Terry Dillon