Thanksgiving Thoughts

I hope everyone has a very happy Thanksgiving! I want to spend just a minute or two and offer a few words on one of my favorite holidays.

But first I need to go back to this past weekend. I did what I find myself doing a couple times a month. I go to the storage unit that now houses all of my parents belongings. An entire houseful of stuff. Furniture, lamps, collectibles, books, china, some clothes, hundreds of pictures, memories...and lots more. An entire life housed in a 15 x 20 air conditioned unit with a roll up door. A life that we now have to figure out what to do with.

So I did what I do...walked in picked around a few boxes, found a box or two to take to donate and rolled that door back down and left. It is overwhelmingly sad to think that these great parents, incredible grandparents, funny, nice people's whole life is in that 15 x 20 air conditioned unit with a roll up door.

Every year since I can remember we have spent Thanksgiving with my parents. I have a picture from every year with my kids, my Dad and the turkey. We have another one of my brother, my dad and my son, marking each year how tall my son was, until he eventually passed his uncle and grandpa. This year there will be no such pictures.

So, I say to you, give thanks for all that you have. Spend that money you work so hard to earn on experiences and not "stuff." Make memories instead of having "things."

Chances are one day someone will be trying to figure out what to do with your life, give them more great memories and less boxes.

Happy Thanksgiving.