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Janice
Edwards
F.O.R. Board of
Director
F.O.R. Press Representative
Mouth Committee member
Logo Committee member
 In
the Spirit of Thanksgiving
By Jan
Edwards
Thanksgiving – it’s here again. Another year
gone and another year we all run around,
buying food to prepare wonderful feasts for
our families and friends. Stressing out over
the perfect turkey – should we roast it,
bake it, fry it, or just smoke it? Do we
stuff it or make dressing? Brown gravy or
giblet? What kind of veggies should we cook?
Can we ever have enough Pumpkin and Pecan
pies? Do we host the meal or go to Aunt
Velma’s?
If we’re not careful this time of year, we
will let preparations for a good time steal
away from our truly celebrating in the true
spirit of Thanksgiving. Maybe we should all
stop for a minute in all our holiday
preparations, take a breather and take stock
of what we all have to be thankful for.
Maybe we should all just think about thanks
giving.
I close my eyes, stand on the deck and feel
the brisk north wind cut a pattern south,
bringing with it a visit from our winter
winged visitors, the Snow Geese. I don’t
have to see them to hear their “line up”
honks as they look for a likely field to
have their picnic Thanksgiving meal stop.
Ever since I was a child, the visiting geese
have always signified that the beat of life
goes on and all is right with the world. For
this, I am thankful.
We’ve had more than our share of rain in the
San Bernard River shed – more than twice the
annual average. While this has impacted the
number of fish in the water, we haven’t had
any wild fires in the pastures and wild life
refuges this year at all. Black Bellied
Whistling ducks have taught me their songs
as they use our side yard as a landing pad
and neighborhood snack shop. For this I am
truly thankful.
Another hurricane season has come and gone
without coming ashore along our immediate
coast. Our river, our homes and our
coastline are still intact and we haven’t
had to deal with insurance claims. Instead
of wind damage, we have had another year of
spectacular sunsets, sunrises that take your
breath away, a full harvest moon spilling a
pool of silver on the calm river, and
rainbow after rainbow pouring their pots of
gold into the San Bernard. For this I give
thanks.
Friends Of the River San Bernard made a lot
more new friends this year. Breakfast on the
Bernard the first Saturday of the month at
Dido’s, Boat parades, Can You Dig it?, a
successful River Raiser, dedication of a new
Community Center, Brazoria County Day in
Austin, and politicians who have our river’s
address and are working together to open the
river mouth. Because of F.O.R., there is an
electric excitement on the river and all
these things make for a better community - a
better neighborhood to have a good day in.
For this I give thanks.
And there are things I am personally
thankful for. My family is healthy; there is
money in the bank and food on the table.
There’s a roof over my head and a river
outside my front door. Wildlife that
surrounds me reminds me that the beat of
life goes on, season after season. I’ve
discovered new pieces of my history puzzle.
I have friends up and down the river to
celebrate with, share joys and sadness with,
to share the load with and just to be there
for. For all this that I am so lucky to
experience, I give thanks.
So, in the spirit of thanks giving, I lift
my morning cup of coffee to the new sunrise.
Another new day, bringing even more joys to
be thankful for. I vow to give back to this
community that gives so much to those who
know it well. And I think, if I never get a
bite of turkey this Thanksgiving, I have
already had my feast - and I am satisfied
to my soul....
Happy Thanksgiving
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One of F.O.R.'s
primary functions is to educate the public
regarding the issues concerning the San Bernard
River and it's Communities. Contact Pat Webb
pat@sanbernardriver.com to schedule a
guest speaker for your group or special event.
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