So I decided to take Ms. Evelyn out on Thanksgiving Day, seeing as how she was under the weather with a bad cold. Normally, shes up at 5 or 6am, cooking all day long . . . and thats hard work. I know it exhausts me as I lie on the couch watching her. A good friend and client, Paul Van Middlesworth, told me we should come to the San Marcos Senior Center as they had an annual Thanksgiving celebration that was super popular. It started out, he said, as an opportunity to feed the needy and homeless. But, it became so popular that more and more regular people started to come and it just ballooned up each year. Last year we had over 800 folks come through and enjoyed a free Thanksgiving Dinner . . . turkey, mashed taters, or yams, stuffing, corn, mac & cheese, soft drinks . . . and its all free. A bunch of churches and some sponsors stage it. Come on out and try it. Youll see a lot of folks you know. Some needy folks, some homeless, a number of business people. Folks from all walks of life. Sounded good to me so we went. The hall was crowded when we got there but there were plenty of open seats at a table. Young teenagers came around with a menu sheet, you checked off what you wanted and they went to the kitchen, returning shortly with your meal . . . and with a smile on their face. You had no idea who your table mates were. Could be homeless. Could be a bank president. Didnt matter. You were there to break bread together and enjoy yourself. Two young women came by and we wished them Happy Thanksgiving. One, a big smiling black woman, grabbed my hand and returned the salutation. She said, I cant talk ... and the other woman explained she had been in Operation Desert Storm, was driving a Stryker when it hit an IED (Improvised Explosive Device). She had some brain damage as well as PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). She couldnt talk very well but she sure could smile. Paul Van Middlesworth came by and we chatted while we ate. He introduced us to a couple folks and we continued to enjoy our meal. Our appetites satisfied and with 1pm hour having arrived and left (the shindig was supposed to wrap up about 1pm but it was 1:15) we decided to leave. I told Paul I would be a sponsor next year as I thought it a very worthwhile and rewarding experience for the community and all who attended. As I left I gave some money to Paul Johnson (?) one of the pastors that started this. It was free but I thought wed try to help out with the expenses. Once in the car and headed home Evelyn asked me . . . did you give him some money? Yep, sez me. Gave him $5 and only asked for $1 in change. You did not! she sez. Sure did. Thought I should help out financially. You gave him a whole $5?! And you wanted change?! Well, yeah. I might need to buy a candy bar or something. Youre impossible, she said. (I actually gave him considerably more than $5. And I didnt ask for any change. I just like to see Evelyn get all riled up. She, however, over the years, has been able to figure me out so she pretty much knows when Im pulling her rickshaw.) The Paper will be a sponsor next year. I might even kick in some money personally. Maybe $5. And they can keep the change.
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 22:26:04 +0000
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