It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and I love this time of the year when the Holidays begin…Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years then my Birthday! Over the weekend, I was ridding-out another section of my attic, and I found this picture of me from 1964. I was two. This photo cracks me up! This picture was taken down in Rural Hill, Mississippi at Big Momma and Big Daddy Tabor’s house. You’ll see the tractor shed directly behind me then the old general store to the right. Big Momma and Big Daddy were my grandparents on my mother’s side. Big Daddy was a farmer in Winston County, MS. Big Momma stayed busy raising eight children. My mother was the 7th child of eight. Even at two, this photo shows attitude and independence.

Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, and summers as a teenager were spent on the family farm with Big Momma and Big Daddy. Hosted by my grandparents, Thanksgiving was always a festival of aunts, uncles, and cousins enjoying a feast of food. From the eight children there came 20 children. Of course today, multiple generations of nephews, nieces, and cousins have been born. Although you cannot see the main house in this photo, I assure you that it looks a lot like the general store and the tractor shed. Even with this rural, country setting, my family shared a depth of love and belonging that has never escaped me.

On Thursday, we’ll celebrate another Thanksgiving. To this day, my family on my mother’s side gets together in rural Mississippi on Thanksgiving and Memorial Day. This year, I’ll be in Raleigh, and part of my heart will be in Rural Hill, MS. For business, it’s no secret that 2009 has been a tough year. With revenues down and with so many folks unemployed, it’s often difficult to remember that we have much to be thankful for. Indeed, we do. A thankful heart carries me throughout the year remembering and enjoying my family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving!