Valeriejeanne Anderson – My Gift of Memories

My family longevity has allowed us five generations now, and our family is huge. My mother can no longer keep all her great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren straight. I no longer know what to get as gifts and I still want to share with the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren on the holidays, so I started a new tradition a few years ago that they all love. Meanwhile I don't have to wrestle my wheelchair through the crowds to do my "shopping."

I pick a theme, then tell a story about my grandparents, my parents, me and my sister and brother, the children and the grandchildren, attaching photos of each of us. This year will be "sweet sixteen." I have attached the photos of my grandmother as a "nanny," my mother at Santa Monica beach, and me on my 16th birthday. I will add the other family members (I have five children) and the appropriate grandchild's photo (there are 16 of them) and send them out. My "gift of memories" pleases everyone from my mom to the five great-grandchildren who love to hear stories about their parents. Family members are collecting the stories for family histories to pass down, and now my friends are asking for copies.

Three generations: Valeriejeanne's grandmother, her mother, and Valeriejeanne at age sixteen.

Charles Brinkley, Jr. – Man Made Days

After spending 11 months and 17 days in Vietnam the holidays are "just another day" for me and I have not observed them since returning home in June 1968. I pass the time with friends and family because my experiences in Vietnam made me realize just what is important, and for me it is not those "man-made" days. So other than using those days to rest and be around friends, it just ain't nothin' special!

On the other hand, personalized messages like yours do bring me back to the days when I was young and innocent — your email just exudes feeling, warmth, and Soul and awakens something long lost. Maybe I feel a kindred spirit, an artistic sharing. I'm not sure what it is — a feeling, a vibe, that healin' feelin' — I'm not sure. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I studied and played music for 13 years. (I was also a student of the martial arts during that entire time). Whatever it is, it's cool with me Sista.

Well, enough of my babbling. I have to get up at 5:00 a.m., get dressed, drop my grandson off with the day care provider and get to work for 7:00 a.m. in San Francisco.

Per your request, I have attached a picture of myself and my Black Angel.

Jane Papp – The Meaning of Thanksgiving

We make it a special occasion every Thanksgiving to invite someone that has no family to join us for dinner and festivities with my very small family. Each year it has been someone new and makes for a wonderful time. To us this is what it is all about.

Betty Voris – The Turkey Bowl

Until Steve, the holidays were simply huge family potluck dinners. Upon marriage, Thanksgiving became an event as the Voris' extended family descended from around the country to the family home in Indianapolis.

Wednesday night is always Chili night. And promptly at 11 a.m. the next day, an open house/bar begins the day's festivities, followed by The Turkey Bowl with Grandpa as referee. Since his dad's death Steve has become referee. Touch football players divide up sides with the little ones equally dispersed. Ironically, in all my 32 years, the children continue to score most touchdowns and the score always ends in a tie. Then everyone sits down to a huge traditional dinner. Later comes the after-dinner walk, the TV football game and a game of hearts.

This year was tinged with nostalgia: Steve's mother has terminal cancer. We do not know what next year's T-day will bring. Whatever, such memories are forever.

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