Morning all:

” The man who says he is willing to meet you halfway is usually a poor judge of distance.” — Laurence J. Peter

It’s 5:30 a.m. in Paul’s home and I found myself slinking out of the bedroom ready to start the coffee. Since the light was on in the family room I peeked around the corner straight at Paul. He mumbled something about going to bed too early and therefore getting up a bit early. Yeah right. He just wanted to see how I make coffee.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING weekend everyone.

Marcia and I have been spending it in western Michigan. To set the mood, all weekend the television screens have been running “lake effect snow flurries” warning trailers continuously. Most of the state is coated in white. We’re not.

Notwithstanding the lack of snow the long weekend has been wonderful. Dinner brought seventeen of us together for a Rockwellesque time. Thanks for hosting and being the ‘whirlwind’ in the kitchen Marlene. The results were not only spectacularly delicious, but hugely appreciated.

A newly introduced rite had each of us take a moment to share with the group a standout item or two for which we were especially grateful this Thanksgiving. This proved to be not only fun, but very meaningful.

For the first time one of our group got involved in what the news weenies love to call “Black Friday”. One of my nieces is a manager at a ‘big box’ store and she had to show up at 2 a.m. to get ready for the customer invasion which was to start at 5.

Sure enough there they were on the news. In the black of night, in the freezing cold, sitting on lawn chairs and shivering in little pop-up tents, these poor misguided folk were displaying their lemming-like behavior waiting for the store doors to open. I just don’t get it. Haven’t they heard of internet shopping?

Make it a great week. Be sure to get up and go for a mile or two walk to reduce the effects of the last couple of food-filled days.

Cheers,

Dirk