Close to Nowhere - Linda Jones


Thursday, November 24, 2011
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Close to Nowhere
By Linda Jones

Giving thanks

On Facebook several folks have been counting down to Thanksgiving by naming one thing a day that they’re thankful for. One friend made a “tree” and every day she and her family are putting a slip of paper on the tree with one thing they’re thankful for. They’re going to read the slips of paper Thanksgiving Day.

And every year, my column before Thanksgiving is what I’m thankful for. I’m mostly thankful for the same stuff I’ve been reading on Facebook every day: home, family, the fact that my pantry is overstocked always, my friends who are more than friends – they’re just not legally related. One friend used to say “not related by blood, but by heart…”

I’m so thankful for my brothers. Dennis has overcome medical and vision problems by drastically changing his diet and exercise – before the eye problems, his diet was greasy and his exercise program was walking to the elevator and the car. Danny, with the help and love of his dog Maggie Mae, has struggled through life-threatening health problems.

I’m really thankful for Pop’s new recliner. It died drastically in the middle of the night last week. With his health and back problems, Pop can’t lay flat to sleep. He spends a lot of time in his recliner with his feet propped up to keep his legs from swelling.

I’m so thankful to live in a small town where everyone knows everyone else – I walked into Buford’s Furniture last week, found a recliner (on sale) and asked Sonny Bounds would it be possible to have the chair delivered that day, and oh, by the way, I didn’t bring cash or plastic with me, could Pop pay for it when it was delivered. Living in a small town, Sonny knew who Pop and I were and said, sure. Pop had his new chair by 1 p.m.

I’m thankful for Pastor Doug, his wife Brandi, who is a phenomenal musician and singer, and for CrossPointe church. They’ve been a source of real strength during the struggles of the past year.

I’m grateful that despite arthritis I can quilt until I’m exhausted and sleep-deprived and get up the next morning and do it again.

I’m grateful for my kids. I’ve always thought I had exceptional children and as they’ve grown into adults, I find they are exceptional adult children.

And being a grandmother – well, if you’re a grandparent, you understand. If you’re not, you won’t until you have grandchildren. At 15.5 and 13.5, my baby girls are teenagers – in every sense of the word! I asked Meredith about a boyfriend not long ago and she said “that’s ‘my’ business!”

When I was a teenager, I thought my mother was just about incapable of breathing without assistance. Somehow, she grew much smarter as I got older. I’m thankful for good memories of a good mom, who didn’t kill me when I was a teenager.

I’m grateful for Sonny and Marion Pryor. They’ve taken my family into their family and given my granddaughters the gift of another set of grandparents. You can never ever have enough love by a grandparent,

And last, but certainly not least, I’m thankful for my job and my work family. We’re a close-knit bunch up here. We’ve been a family here for a long time. During Beth’s illness, treatment and recovery, we have grieved and rejoiced with her.

I guess mostly, I’m thankful for love – love given and love received.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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