I was in Wal-Mart last night picking up some groceries, when I suddenly spotted the turkeys. They were there in the freezer just like they are every year, but this year is different. A cold chill ran up my spine and into my heart as I stared at them. This is the first Thanksgiving my parents won’t be here.
I swerved up a different isle trying to keep the tears from coming and feeling the waves of grief that comes with them. It didn’t help; everywhere I looked there were more reminders.
Then I started getting texts from my friend and (used to be) neighbor. He had spotted my car in the parking lot and Lindsey sitting in it. He said “hi” to her then started texting me as if he were stalking me in the store. It was so funny it made me laugh. He told me he was looking for me and if he found me I would have to pay for his groceries.
We went in stealth mode through the store, I checked out first and made it to the car. Whew!
I texted him to let him know I made it, he laughed and said, “dang it!”
I am thankful for my friends with amazing sense of timing and a wonderful sense of humor. You just can’t beat that.
Cherry Coley ©
SpilledCookies 
I love when things like this happen. Sweet! Your friend sounds like a lot of laughs!
It made me smile. 🙂
It’s amazing how friends can appear when you need them the most. We “celebrated” our first Thanksgiving without my mom 1 week after her funeral. I think we were all still in shock. Holidays were my mom’s thing. She loved to cook and make the holidays special for her family. This will be my fifth Thanksgiving without my mom. I miss her cooking, the special touches she added, and the love she put into the holidays. I still keep some of her traditions and I won’t give them up. I hope the next few weeks and Thanksgiving day itself aren’t too difficult for you. Hugs.
Yes, last year was the first Thanksgiving without my dad. He died Sept 21st. Mom left us just 12 weeks later. I am trying not to dwell on it, but it hits me when I am in the store. I took mom grocery shopping most weeks and the memories are there – no matter what store we go too. Thank you for your kindness and comforting thoughts.
Most of us all remember that malt shop, hardware store or other little Mom and Pop businesses we used to frequent as we grew up. The streets were lined with them. They provided us summer jobs and little league sponsorships. They gave us a smile and big hello when we walked in and the weather and our families were always the hot topic of small talk. Most of those are gone today.