THANKSGIVING TRIBUTE TO FAMILY
by Janis Stein

As the last of the farm fields are harvested and the fall tillage continues, the nip in the air reminds one and all what Mother Nature has in store. The lone apple tree in the yard stands bare - the red delicious fruit stripped from her burdened branches only weeks earlier. Her leaves, though stubbornly hang on; they will be the last to fall before joining the ash leaves, which have surrendered their hold; while many lay scattered about the lawn, a chosen few perform an airy dance in the crisp wind.

Orange pumpkins and butternut squash line the porch, awaiting their fate. Very soon this decorative display will be transformed into mouthwatering pies and breads fit for any Thanksgiving table.

We, as Americans, have a great deal to be thankful for besides the bounty that will grace our tables and our many freedoms. Family comes to mind first and foremost this year. As I close my eyes and listen, I can almost hear again the giggles and see the looks of delight from my daughters as they plucked apple after apple from the tree, scrutinizing and examining each before picking the next. The task, though, required several breaks and, apples abandoned, the girls ran around the yard, the crunching, rustling leaves music to our ears. This scene I savored from my perch high atop the stepladder; almost wistfully I wished I could freeze time. Promises of apple pie and sauce had my helpers scurrying back to their posts, excited to pick yet another basket laden with fruit.

Curiosity and innocence mark their youth. Best friends my daughters are (except when they're fighting!), and best friends I hope they will always remain. Distance and differences can sometimes drive a wedge between friendships, but the bond of family will always tie them together. Sisters they will always be.

Fast-forward to another glorious fall day as I sit in a doctor's office waiting room, watching two more sisters. As I glance at my watch, I realize only a minute has passed since the last time I looked. The doctor, no doubt, would be running behind, but the sisters cared not about any potential delays.

The ladies talked up a storm, sharing snippets from their lives and laughing like school girls. As CNN droned on from the TV hanging from its ceiling mount and I half-heartedly thumbed through an old magazine, I realized these two sisters would be all the entertainment I needed. The women, some 30 years my senior, were most endearing as they exchanged knowing looks and finished each other's sentences. Clearly, these sisters shared a bond that stood the test of time. Sisters they will always be.

While friends can be counted on for support when the chips are down and to celebrate the high notes in our lives, family is something else entirely. From picking apples together to sitting in a doctor's waiting room to pass the time, what makes family so precious is their presence in sharing all the mediocrity in between. And isn't that a grand thing to be thankful for!