Thanksgiving

November 30, 2008

Thanksgiving

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.
-Emerson



Toast to Sheila

Michael*

In lieu of being with family this year at Thanksgiving, we once again took advantage of the wonderful and warm hospitality and good cheer that the Key West community, otherwise known as our extended family provided. We actually took advantage of two wonderful invitations this year, one for a delightful brunch in the morning and another for dinner later in the afternoon. That meant of course getting to eat twice as much as the average Thanksgiving gorging, but it also meant we got to share the day with even more wonderful friends.

Nadene

Jack

Terry & Alicia

It started off with brunch at the home of our friends Nadene & Trevor. In addition to the wonderful food and company, we had the pleasure of watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and getting to witness Nadene’s joy at the appearance of Kermit the Frog in both balloon form, as well as in the flesh as it were. It was a wonderful way to kick off the day. We eventually had to leave to prepare some food for our second stop.

Kermit & Nadene

Bill Rowan

Arlo shucks oysters

We have been to the Rowan’s Thanksgiving open house many times in the past and after missing a couple of years it was really great to be back with so many great people. Of course it was not the same without the presence of Sheila Rowan, but it seemed as if her spirit was evident everywhere turning a potentially somber holiday into a celebration of her spirit through her family and friends.

The bar

Wes, Kathy & John



*

We brought along some guests from Vermont who were here staying at Kathy’s Dad’s place, John, Jane, Dean & Barb and in one of those small world moments, there were people they knew (Annette & Perry) at the party. The food was amazing and the people at the Rowans were the sort of eclectic mix of Key West that we love so much. We had an amazing afternoon/evening/night. We basically closed the place down after finishing off the bottle of Sambuca that Lauren & Brendan unveiled late in the evening. We have so much to be thankful for in our community. Thanks so much to Nadene & Trevor and the Rowan family for a wonderful day.

Jason *

Brendan pours Sambuca shots

Mark & Elena post Sambuca

I am also thankful this week to have been able to watch my High School alma mater, Cathedral High of Indianapolis capture their 7th Indiana State Championship in football with a 10-7 hard fought victory over Ft. Wayne Bishop Dwenger High. Sadly I am now so old that I have former classmates whose children attend Cathedral and it is with great pride that I watched the game through the magic of the internet.

Indiana State Champions

Cathedral High School

Of course with all great joy comes some sorrow and I was saddened this week to learn of the passing of a dear friend, Ann Cornell Weber who was the mother of another wonderful friend Jody (Weber) Selin. Ann was talented artist, gardener, nature lover and over the time that I knew her, offered me the utmost in kindness, support and friendship. Kathy & I extend our deepest sympathy to her husband of 46 years, Paul Weber and to Jody & Scott Selin and the entire Weber family and all their friends. Memorial donations are being accepted by The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach, P.O. Box 3369, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582.

Jody & Ann


* note photos thanks to Mark Heddon