THANKSGIVING

Good Morning, Class of '64

Home to Thanksgiving - George Dunne

So once in every year we throng
Upon a day apart,
To praise the Lord with feast and song
In thankfulness of heart.
Arthur Guiterman

The First Thanksgiving

 

The First Thanksgiving - Jennie Brownescomb

 

Sundays with Larry

 

 

Thanksgiving

I’ve always wondered – when an atheist sees a beautiful spring morning with green grass, birds singing, and flowers blooming, who does he thank? Or a beautiful sunset? Or a child at play? And how does an atheist celebrate Thanksgiving? Or does he celebrate Thanksgiving? Just wondering.

We have been told many lies about Thanksgiving. We are told, and we teach in schools, that the founding fathers of the United States were deists at best. But most were Christians. They did not talk about their faith as much as most people do today. They believed that their faith, and feelings, were private and not to be worn on their sleeves.

When the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, they tried the one for all and all for one approach – from each according to his ability and to each according to his needs. That was in their original contract; they tried socialism. Fifty-one of 103 died that winter. Socialism did not work. It never has.

The next spring, Governor Bradford assigned parcels of land to each of them. They could keep what they raised, or they could trade it to others. The harvest was bountiful, more than enough for everyone. That is why they celebrated the first Thanksgiving. That first Thanksgiving is actually a monument to the power of capitalism and free enterprise.

They gathered to thank God. Here is the order from Governor Bradford:

“All ye Pilgrims with your wives and little ones, do gather at the Meeting House on the hill…there to listen to the pastor, and render thanksgiving to the Almighty God for all His blessings.”

I love the food at Thanksgiving. I enjoy the football. I love being with family. I also take some time to thank God for His many blessings just as the Pilgrims did that first Thanksgiving.

Here’s a poem by Jimmy Dean, the “Big John” man and the sausage man that pretty much says it all about being thankful. Dean said it better than I ever could.

 

I’m Drinking from My Saucer
Jimmy Dean

I’ve never made a fortune,
and it’s probably too late now,

But I don’t worry about that much; 

I’m happy anyhow.
As I go along life’s journey, 

I’m reaping better than I’ve sowed.
I’m drinking from my saucer 

‘cause my cup has overflowed.

I don’t have a lot of riches, 

and sometime’s the going’s tough.
But I’ve got three kids that love me; 

that makes me rich enough.
And I remember times when things went wrong, 

and my faith got a little bit thin,
But then all at once the dark clouds broke 

and the sun peeped through again.

So, Lord, help me not to gripe 

about the tough rows that I’ve hoed.
I’m drinking from my saucer 

‘cause my cup has overflowed.

And if God gives me strength and courage 

when the way grows steep and rough,
I’ll not ask for other blessings; 

I’m already blessed enough.
And may I never be too busy 

to help another bear his load.
Then I’ll keep drinking from my saucer 

‘cause my cup has overflowed.

May you and yours have 

a blessed Thanksgiving!

 

Thanksgiving - Jessica Stuntz

 

Give thanks for unknown blessings 

already on their way. 

Native American Saying

Nothing is more honorable 

than a grateful heart. 

Seneca

All that we behold is 

full of blessings.

William Wordsworth

O Lord that lends me life,
Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness.
William Shakespeare

If you count all your assets, 

you always show a profit. 

Robert Quillen

 

Catching the Thanksgiving Turkey - Anna Mary Robertson "Grandma Moses"

 

Around the Thanksgiving holiday, when we were in "Grade School", we would have been coloring mimeographed pictures of squirrels with acorns and maybe some pumpkins and turkeys. There would have been some Pilgrim pictures in the mix and probably an Indian or two. 

 

We'd have been learning about the Mayflower bringing the Pilgrims to Plymouth Rock, and the huge feast of thanksgiving they had with the Indians. They weren't called Native Americans, back then.

 

We learned that the Pilgrims had come to America for the freedom to practice their religion as they chose. We weren't taught that they were America's first terrorists as some schools are teaching these days. I know our customs and traditions are being upended for political purposes, but for the life of me I can't figure that one out.

 

Over the River and Through the Woods is the song we will all remember from those autumn days of long, long ago. Sitting at our desks with that year's songbook open to the page, we sang the best our small voices could sing. As we sang, we rode the sleigh through the snow covered wood and across the bridge to Grandma's house.

 

Over the River and Through the Woods
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over_the_River_and_Through_the_Wood

 

"The New-England Boy's Song about Thanksgiving Day", also known as "Over the River and Through the Wood".

It is a Thanksgiving poem by Lydia Maria Child.

 

Our modern Thanksgiving holiday is not always associated with snow, but New England in the early 19th century was enduring the Little Ice Age. It was very cold, and they had earlier winters.

 

Over the River and Through the Wood

Lydia Marie Child

Over the river, and through the wood,

To Grandmother's house we go;

the horse knows the way to carry the sleigh

through the white and drifted snow.

Over the river, and through the wood,

to Grandfather's house away!

We would not stop for doll or top,

for 'tis Thanksgiving Day.

Over the river, and through the wood—

oh, how the wind does blow!

It stings the toes and bites the nose

as over the ground we go.

Over the river, and through the wood—

and straight through the barnyard gate,

We seem to go extremely slow,

it is so hard to wait!

Over the river, and through the wood—

When Grandmother sees us come,

She will say, "O, dear, the children are here,

bring a pie for everyone."

Over the river, and through the wood—

now Grandmother's cap I spy!

Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done?

Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

The following verses appear in a "long version":

Over the river, and through the wood,

with a clear blue winter sky,

The dogs do bark, and children hark,

as we go jingling by.

Over the river, and through the wood,

to have a first-rate play.

Hear the bells ring, "Ting-a-ling-ding!",

Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!

Over the river, and through the wood,

no matter for winds that blow;

Or if we get the sleigh upset

into a bank of snow

Over the river, and through the wood,

to see little John and Ann;

We will kiss them all, and play snow-ball

and stay as long as we can.

Over the river, and through the wood,

trot fast, my dapple-gray!

Spring over the ground like a hunting-hound!

For 'tis Thanksgiving Day.

Over the river, and through the wood,

Old Jowler hears our bells.

He shakes his pow, with a loud bow-wow,

and thus the news he tells.

 

Larry Groce 

and the
Disneyland Children's 

Sing-Along Chorus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Groce
Larry Groce lives in West Virginia and since 1983 has served as the host and artistic director of Mountain Stage, a two-hour live music program produced by West Virginia Public Radio and distributed by NPR. You might remember him for his 1976 novelty song "Junk Food Junkie". It became a Top Ten hit.

 

But see, in our open clearings, 

how golden the melons lie;
Enrich them with sweets and spices, 

and give us the pumpkin-pie!
Margaret Junkin Preston

 

I suppose I will die never knowing 

what pumpkin pie tastes like 

when you have room for it. 

Robert Brault

rbrault.blogspot.com

 

An optimist is a person who starts 

a new diet on Thanksgiving Day.

Irv Kupcinet

Over the River to Grandma's House - Anna Mary Robertson "Grandma Moses"

 

I awoke this morning with devout
thanksgiving for my friends,
the old and the new.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Thanksgiving
Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends. 

 

For flowers that bloom about our feet;
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;
For song of bird, and hum of bee;
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!

 

  

LARRY'S EMBARRASSING MOMENTS

GOOD MORNING, CLASS OF '64

Sundays with Larry

Life’s Full of Embarrassing Moments

Being a bit of a klutz, I’ve had my share. In fact I’ve probably created as much laughter as Red Skelton – didn’t get paid nearly as much as Red.

I started early. I was assigned to lead the group in the Lord’s Prayer at a Methodist Youth rally. I practiced until I had it down, word-for-word. When the time came, I stood and did a fine job of reciting the 23rd Psalm! Many years later, I was asked to do a brief memorial for a cousin at a family reunion. The deceased’s sister wanted me to lead the group in the Lord’s Prayer. I told her what had happened and asked her to stand behind me to give me a swift kick if I did it again.

Then there was the only deer I ever shot at during deer season. He was 40 – 45 yards away, an easy shot. I topped some trees until I ran out of ammunition. At least the buck was the only one there to laugh at me!

Or the time I was convinced that the universal joint was bad on my car. Put a new one on, but the problem was still there. Finally discovered a spark plug wire was loose.

Or the time in Korea when I was forcefully asked to stand up front with the wedding party at a Korean wedding. Everyone in the room was dressed in black or white, except me. I was at least a head taller than the rest of the wedding party. The only colors in that church were my army green uniform and a very red face.

My best one in the prison ended in a bang. I had left my classroom to get a cup of coffee. On the way back, I cleared my mailbox in the office. As I approached my classroom, I was looking at my mail. I did not notice that an inmate orderly had just mopped the floor in front of my classroom.

The leather soles on my boots did not like the wet tiles – both soles headed upward toward the ceiling. I entered the classroom sliding on my backside, coffee cup held high. I slammed into a metal trash can which then crashed into a metal desk.

My inmates were too shocked to laugh. I got to my feet trying to regain a tiny bit of dignity, took a sip of coffee, and said, “Didn’t spill a drop!” The inmates went crazy laughing. When they finally calmed down a little, I said “Now that I’ve wakened you all up, get to work!” Not much work done that day.

Women working in a prison have unique clothing challenges. They have to wear a belt to hang their keys on. They have to wear a name tag penned to their blouse. And they have to try to maintain modesty in their dress. They have some embarrassing moments.

A lady I’ll call Linda was a secretary in a housing unit. She had to carry 8 – 10 inmate files to another building across the compound. Each file was 2 to 4 inches thick so it was a load. It was raining so she carried an umbrella to keep herself dry, but much more important, to keep the files dry.

As she was making her way across the compound, she felt the elastic on her panties break. She desperately tried to maintain pressure on them, but with the stack of files and umbrella, it was a losing battle. When they fell, she quickly knelt, stepped out of them, and stuffed them under her coat. She looked all around and thought she had been undetected.

When she entered her destination building, the phone was ringing. It was for her. The call was from Judy, a terrific lady whom everyone liked. Judy had a great if slightly warped sense of humor.

She said, gleefully, “You thought no one saw you! You thought you got away with it! You’re wrong! We all saw you out our window! Listen!” Then she held the phone up so Linda could hear them all laughing.

Linda told me this story herself. One great thing about working in the prison was the openness and honesty among the staff.

One of the toughest and best lessons I’ve ever learned is to laugh at myself. Of course, I’ve had many opportunities! I take my family seriously, I take my beliefs seriously, and I take my voting responsibility seriously. When I was working, I took my job seriously. When I finally learned not to take myself so seriously, my life became much happier.

Just wish I could have gotten paid as much a Red did for all the laughter I’ve given other people!

 

How to Get Over an Embarrassing Moment
http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Over-an-Embarrassing-Moment
 

   

Red Skelton

 Quotes:

Live by this credo: have a little laugh at life and look around you for happiness instead of sadness. Laughter has always brought me out of unhappy situations.

I personally believe that each of us was put here for a purpose -- to build not to destroy. If I can make people smile, then I have served my purpose for God.

No matter what your heartache may be, laughing helps you forget it for a few seconds.

I'm nuts and I know it. But so long as I make 'em laugh, they ain't going to lock me up.

A fellow told me he was going to hang-glider school. He said, "I've been going for three months."
I said, "How many successful jumps do you need to make before you graduate?"
He said, "All of them."

Recipe for a happy marriage: My wife and I always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.

I don't need glasses, but I've just reached the age where curiosity is greater than vanity.

Good night, and may God Bless.

Born
July 18, 1913
Vincennes, Indiana, U.S.
Died
September 17, 1997 (aged 84)
Rancho Mirage, California, U.S.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Skelton

Official Red Skelton Page

http://www.redskelton.com/#!biography/ciaa 

Red Skelton Show

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red_Skelton_Show 

 Red Skelton as Clem Kadiddlehopper

Red Skelton Interview 1981 (Rare) 

Part 1 of 3 segments

What's My Line? Red Skelton (1960)

  

 Red Skeltons' 

Freddie the Freeloader's 

Christmas Dinner (1981) 

Part 1

   

(Watching Red Skelton again, after many, many years, you're hit with the realization of how much things have changed in half a century. An attack of nostalgia and longing for those days twists and tightens the stomach and the knot travels upward from the middle of your chest to your throat. Those were the good old days. Then, it occurs that fifty years down the road, Little Gal and her contemporaries will feel that same nostalgia for things of today, the here and now. Their "good old days" are what's happening right now, this very minute. In some future year she could be writing and becoming wistful about her own long ago days. Will she be thinking "life was so much simpler then" as we do now?)

Time and tide wait for no man.
Geoffrey Chaucer