Just as the strawberry rhubarb pie was coming out of the oven on Tuesday evening around six o’clock, the power went out.  Candles and lamps came out and we were reminded that not that long ago these pies were baked in wood stoves, and we can imagine that they probably tased better.  This strawberry rhubarb pie was not Esther Wrinkles’ recipe, but a store bought (Champion Store bought) pie filling made by Blackberry Hill Farms in Rich Hill, Missouri.  The old Christmas Cactus that Esther shared twenty years ago is blooming, and she is often remembered.  These holidays keep us grateful for the family and friends that we have today and those we’ve lost along the way.  The power came back about ten on Tuesday evening and by Wednesday the White River Valley folks told us a tree had come down across the line somewhere that put us in the dark for a little while.  Carissa from Hero’s Rest joined the Wednesday pickers for a few sweet tunes that had everyone in a good mood for Thursday.

That pie was a hit with the Thanksgiving crowd.  All across the country people were gathered to feast with dear ones and to express gratitude for their good fortune, particularly as we acknowledge the strife and struggles of so many worldwide.  Another sad day for the Kansas City Chiefs does not seem to dampen the enthusiasm of the fans who remain relentlessly optimistic, though Dorothy Parker may have said, “This wasn’t just plain terrible, this was fancy terrible.  This was terrible with raisins in it.”  Some splendid leftovers helped to finish the week, and Mother’s little kitchen plaque still rings true: “Thank God for dirty dishes…With home and health and happiness, I shouldn’t want to fuss, for by this stack of evidence, God’s been very good to us.” 

A young fellow visiting asked, “How did you know how to do stuff before there was YouTube?”  The many answers we can provide give us pause and pride.  At the same time, You Tube is a good resource which causes others to ask, “What if the internet failed?”  Some folks say a solar storm could make it happen worldwide.  It might be good to practice spending a little time disconnected from it from time to time just to practice personal autonomy.   A guy named David Avocado Wolfe says, “Singing can increase an immune antibody (S-lgA) in the body by up to 240% in less than an hour. This helps recover faster from illness.” A popular singer over in Edinburgh, Scotland encourages his audience to sing along any time they know the song.  He says singing is good for you and one of the few things that are both free and good for you.  After Thanksgiving dinner conversation echoed what Buckminster Fuller said so succinctly, “Humanity is talking its final examination.  We have come to an extraordinary moment when it doesn’t have to be you or me.  There is enough for all.  We need not operate competitively any longer.  If we succeed, it will be because of youth, truth, and love.” These days find us with plenty to talk about.  We might not all agree how to do it, but we probably all hope to make it better.

Champions are looking forward to Kaitlyn McConnell’s visit on Wednesday, bringing with her copies of the “Ozarks’ Pie Project Diary.”  Maybe one of her recipes will make it to the “Friendsgiving” potluck on Saturday the 6th.  We will eat about noon. Everyone is welcome, bring a side dish and join us in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

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