A Good Reason to Give Thanks

by Dixie A. Walter

     While shopping at Kirk's Pharmacy in Eatonville the other day Saundra Ehlke and I were bemoaning the fact that Thanksgiving has all but disappeared in store displays and almost everywhere else. Kirk's had more Thanksgiving reminders than bigger stores. We talked about how sad it is that a feast, which brings family and friends together, has become a blip between Halloween and Christmas. Saundra, who has worked at Kirk's for nearly two years, said she decided many weeks before to do something about that sad fact.

      I think her idea is terrific. Saundra is going to make each Thanksgiving from now on a day of special remembrance for a family member who is no longer living. She chose her dad, Bob Brymer, to begin the tradition.  Saundra has two sons, Bill Fleshman, 29, and Jeff Ehlke, 20. When she explained her idea to Bill he wasn't sold immediately. However, within minutes Bill was remembering how his granddad, who has been gone ten years, called him "Chilly Willie." Saundra told him, "It's working already." 
      Saundra made a collage on poster board as homage to her dad. The collage also features his parents and grandparents. She has also asked family members to bring pictures and albums to her home this Thanksgiving so everyone will be part of remembering Bob. 
      Don't you think that's just a wonderful idea? It's not too late for the rest of us to bring out the old albums and be thankful for our family. We are on the verge of war, our economy gets shakier and shakier and our little community is in a precarious position to say the least. We need reasons to be thankful and Saundra has thought of the perfect reason. I want to thank her. 

"Pity the poor kids who grow up in a big city. They miss the little things that made growing up in a small town, ah, so wonderful."
~Tom Morrow