Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Turkey Talk

No one is allowed to call my house at 7:30 am. Some brave person dared this morning and as I groaned under the covers, I couldn't help but imagine all sorts of scenarios.

With Thanksgiving only days away, and with us in Florida and everyone else we know thousands of miles away, I couldn't help but worry if someone died. Early morning or late night phone calls produce that kind of reaction in me. I can't help it--we've had the calls before.

Holidays bring out all kinds of emotions. We get together with people we haven't seen in months, we travel to new or familiar destinations, we invite others to share our table or we spend it alone watching the Macy's Day parade and an afternoon football game.

But in the midst of all these heightened senses--something else is growing. Something is taking shape as the hours tumble before us like the shriveled leaves on the lawn.

Our next story.

By the time this holiday ends--you'll have a new story needing to be written. So pass me the leftovers because I plan to make a pretty good casserole for next week.

10 comments:

Linda Hoye said...

I can relate to the early morning/late night phone calls. My stomach always falls when this happens and I imagine the worst.

Love your perspective about the holidays producing our next story. Wonderful perspective, I'm looking forward to see what my story will be this year!

Susan Storm Smith said...

I love casseroles :-)

Janna Leadbetter said...

I hope the call didn't carry bad news...

You know, I've been thinking the same thing. All the feelings evoked by thanks and family go a long way toward creating a palette for new writing. I'll have to watch for snapshots! :)

Happy Thanksgiving, Terri. Be blessed!

Melissa Amateis said...

It's going to be a different Thanksgiving for me, away from my family, but I hope to make new memories. :-)

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

"Our next story..."

Love it, and so well written, Terri. Indeed, left-overs are all the better. They've had time to marinate in our minds and stomachs and become the filling for days on end.

Happy Thanksgiving.

peace~elaine

Barb Davis said...

As the mother of six grown children, the sudden ringing of the phone in those sometimes wee hours of the morning, when they were teenagers, would shake me to my core. My heart would race as I stumbled and felt my way across a darkened room knowing that whatever the case, it wouldn't be good. Even now, I dread that sound.

Thanks for reminding me to look for memories this holiday season. That's what it's all about.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Anonymous said...

I can relate to what you are saying. This will be the first time in 20 years that ALL of my family...both sides...will gather together for Thanksgiving Dinner. The last time we did this was at my GrannyMa's house before my Grandpa passed away. My GrannyMa is now 88 years old and my mom has gone on to be with her dad, so we have decided to give GrannyMa a wonderful Thanksgiving (this will mark the 1 year anniversary of my mom's passing...GrannyMa's daughter...Nov. 28th) so we can celebrate those who have gone on before us and rejoice for those who are still here. I plan to take a lot of notes from stories that will surely be told and new stories to tell in the future.

Jessica Nelson said...

So, I'm guessing no one died? :-)

It seems like I always have a new story waiting to be written. My fingers don't type fast enough.

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving! :-)

Angie Ledbetter said...

No no no on the casseroles. Here abouts, we gotta have post-Thanksgiving turkey gumbo. Must!

Loved this thought (worthy of putting away in your fodder file): "Something is taking shape as the hours tumble before us like the shriveled leaves on the lawn."

Travis Erwin said...

You never told us who was on the phone.