NEWSLETTERS

November 2003
 
"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving." - W.T. Purkiser

"Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and
shows itself in deeds." - Theodore Roosevelt

"Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all." - William Faulkner

As Thanksgiving draws near, I'm reminded to be thankful, and I'm reminded once again of one of my favorite things on earth: Pumpkin Pie. Not "pumpkin pie," mind you, but Pumpkin Pie. No other pie, or desert for that matter, comes close in my book, and for that reason it gets capital respect. You see, I'm no holiday scrooge, but sometimes holidays have a way of rushing up on me so fast that I don't have time to get in the right holiday groove. But even when I don't have time to bake a Pumpkin Pie, just saying those two magic words does the trick. "Pumpkin Pie," and, Presto! I'm in the spirit. If only I had one right now . The corner grocery store had some for Halloween, but I think they ruined them with black food dye and jack-o-lantern smiles made out of black licorice. I was worried I'd be singing all through November with a purple tongue, so I did not succumb to the temptation (and I do say that with all due respect to the baker). But I did laugh when I saw those pies, and for that, I was grateful. See, I told you just thinking about Pumpkin Pie gets me in the spirit!

One reason the holiday season snuck up on me this year quicker than usual, I think, is because my watch gave out on me. I went to the watch store. I said, "I want a watch that tells the date and time BIG enough for me to be able to see it. And, I want numbers on it ... one through 12. BIG numbers." Keeping time is important when you're in my line of work, and I don't mean the kind of time a drummer is supposed to keep. You see, one time while I was playing a festival, I got my time wrong and left the stage too early. Then I had to come back on stage and pretend like I knew what I was doing because, well, how do you tell an audience that you can't tell time? It was *very* embarrassing. Anyway, as I explained all of this to the kid behind the counter at the watch store and told him what I wanted - BIG numbers - he
looked bumfuzzled for a few minutes and then said, "I'm not sure if we have that here." He was serious. I was in a watch store!

Long story short (how's my time?), I finally found one - after about, oh, I can only guess here, an hour? Or was it two? Anyway, the date's real small, which means I'll just have to stay on my toes, keep my fingers crossed and squint when it comes to keeping my days in order, but the numbers at least are nice and BIG and solid and they even glow in the dark. And let me tell you, I'm so thankful for those big, glowing numbers that, time permitting, I might just reconsider one of those funky corner store Pumpkin Pies after all. In fact, if the baker dyes a turkey head onto one of them, I'm all over it. And I'll fix my hair wild, stick out my purple tongue and flash my glow-in-the-dark watch as a holiday highlight should boredom overcome me at any time during this holiday season. And, I'll be thankful I'm healthy enough to do all of that, because as a friend of mine says, getting older ain't for sissies.

Holidays aren't for sissies, either. Even the ones I love. Every year, I've found that I've had to rise up to them like a Greenbay Packer (sorry Cowboy fans) or Houston Comet or San Antonio Silver Star to enjoy them properly. With Thanksgiving, the challenge isn't just rising up to give thanks for all the things I'm thankful for, but also accepting what can't be changed. And each year, if I manage to do both, I'm *truly* thankful! This Thanksgiving, I know some of you are not at home. Others of you are. Wherever you may be, I wish you peace, comfort, and safety this special holiday. Troops ... you are in my prayers.
Happy Trails,
Terri Hendrix

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