Turkey and the Wizard

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 I had a friend in college who associated Turkey with the Wizard of Oz.  Not sure why he did this because the Wizard of Oz was always shown on TV in the spring.  I assume they did this as it was tomato season in the Midwest that was just beginning.  The night my oldest son was born, I watched that movie as my wife was resting with him asleep in her arms.  Fathers, especially new ones, are just emotionally tired.  That was in March and every year of his birthday my wife reminds me.  

I had gone to Taco Bell for my dinner and ate tacos while watching the movie.  I can’t go to Taco Bell without remembering.  It seems to be my favorite comfort food.  And I’m reminded every year of my friend who made the association between turkeys and the Wizard of Oz.  And I never understood this association between the two.  But every Thanksgiving I remember his association.  

So, obviously I have to write about it.  While growing up, we always played football with the neighborhood kids at Thanksgiving, so I associate football with Thanksgiving too.  In fact, I associate a lot of things with Thanksgiving.  Mostly family and football.  The Wizard of Oz sneaks into my mind on occasion but mostly Thanksgiving has been about family and football.  

This year is no different.  We’ve entertained friends of the kids at Thanksgiving and we’ve traveled to be with extended family at that time.  This year it looks as though it will be the three of us, depending on what my son decides to do.  I’ll look back on my life and I’ll remember with great fondness Thanksgivings we’ve shared.  And I’ll give a thought or two to my friend Fred from college who for whatever reason associated Thanksgiving with turkey and the Wizard of Oz.  

I never gave much thought to my old college classmates, but my wife stays in touch with a few on FB.  She lets me know what’s going on with a few of them.  I’m just thankful every day for life itself.  As every day could be Christmas, every day could be Thanksgiving too.  And you could throw Easter into every day as well.  I just have never been sure what to do with The Wizard of Oz, but he creeps into my thinking every year.  I can thank good old Fred for that.  

I often think about my friends I had in college, like me they got married, had families, and their work to keep them busy.  But my wife encounters them on FB once in a while and she’ll tell me.  My life took a different path from most.  But I’m thankful every day it did!  This is a very special time of year with or without the Wizard of Oz.  This week preceding Thanksgiving really begins the holidays.  I’m so thankful for it!

So, here’s to you, Fred, who brought the Wizard of Oz into my thinking every Thanksgiving.  If not for you I wouldn’t give it a thought!  Not sure I should thank you or curse you!  But the Bible says to give thanks for all things!  Sometimes I’d like to make exceptions.  This is one of them!  But I’m glad to have known you!  I’m thankful for my college days but have no desire to relive them, except with my wife!  I’m most thankful for her and family.  

Today I am smoking my birthday Savinelli pipe with Cellar Reserve from the East India Trading Company and my coffee is the last of my Stumptown Holler Mountain.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave

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