By Rev. Tom White, February 14, 2019 — The celebration of Thanksgiving has always held fond memories for me. It was then, during my childhood, that anticipating for that day was an objective all of its own. Thanksgiving was not just a stop on the path to Christmas; it was a time to anticipate for its own sake. The following are a few things I fondly remember:
1. Preparation in school. We made colorful decorations with which to festoon the classroom.
2. The Sunday before Thanksgiving in church school (Sunday School) when we recited Psalm 100 in unison. Also, we always sang, “Come Ye Thankful People Come.”
3. The morning of Thanksgiving day was spent listening to the Philadelphia parade. Of course the highlight of the parade was when that gent from the North Pole got on his sleigh (mounted on a float) and climbed up a fire truck’s ladder and entered a window to take his place on his throne in Gimbel Brother’s store. This location was in Toyland, of course, and Toyland was located on the fifth floor! I could see him doing this in my mind, silently praying that he wouldn’t fall.
Of course, the most impressive Thanksgiving treat was the celebration dinner. It was almost always at my grandparent’s home. For so many years there were just nine of us: my grandparents, an uncle and an end, a great aunt who was an unclaimed jewel, my parents, and my brother then myself.
Now, all of them have passed on. I can imagine them gathering for Thanksgiving celebration on the other side of that golden shore.
For me and Edna, we will celebrate with my daughter, Anneliese, and family. It should be a quiet, intimate affair. I doubt that there will be any more than twenty one or twenty two people there.