The day after Halloween, stores begin stocking turkeys, gourds, hay bales and scarecrows. People begin thinking about where Thanksgiving will be held this year, what dishes they are going to make and some start stressing about having the in-laws over for dinner. In the midst of all this craziness, people can lose sight of what is really important during this simple American holiday. When most people think of celebrating Thanksgiving, two things come to mind: food and family. For seniors in their 70s, 80s and 90s, Thanksgiving is also a time to reflect on the cherished freedoms and the reasons why they’re thankful. 78-year-old Norma Richardson and 79-year-old Paul Smith, both residents of Parkway Place, enjoy partaking in the normal American traditions, but they both have a unique perspective about why Thanksgiving is such an important holiday to them and how others should focus on it as well.
“Each day is a gift, and I wake up looking for positive things to do each day,” expressed Richardson. “I find joy in helping others or brightening their day, and I try to make the best of the day that I have been given. I learned a lesson a long time ago from a lawyer who I dated. I was coming home from teaching school and he was leaning on the wall outside of my apartment. He extended a beautiful bouquet of flowers to me. I said, ‘What are these for?’ to which he replied, ‘I lost my case today, and I knew what would make me feel better and that was to do something nice for you. So, I picked you up some flowers.’ He showed me that there is nothing better than doing something for somebody else when you’re feeling down. By helping others, there will be happiness for us.”
Richardson said that as a child she was most thankful to eat all the delicious food that was around the house that they normally did not have, like the turkey and dressing with cranberry sauce and the pumpkin pie. Now that she is older, she values her relationship with God and her good health. She also appreciates that she is fortunate enough to live in a free country.
“This year I will begin a new Thanksgiving tradition,” said Richardson. “I usually meet my friends at the Marriot for a Thanksgiving feast, but this year, I’ve invited them to my home at Parkway Place where there will be a grand scale celebration of thanks.”
“Having lived overseas for 31 years, I can appreciate our freedom and the religious freedom we have in the United States,” said Smith. “Most people don’t think much about it, but when you live in a different country it opens your eyes. I did missionary work overseas for much of my life. I feel like we all need to be more thankful for simple amenities like having easy access to food, good roads to drive on and running water. These are not things to complain about, but reasons to be thankful.”
While Smith was overseas with his family, they would still celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. His wife would stock up on Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), they would invite all 18 of their fellow workers in Iraq over for dinner and have a special celebration of thanks. Since they have moved back to the US, he started the tradition of traveling to Brownwood, TX to shoot a deer or a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. This year, he has decided to wait to go hunting until Christmas.
“Whenever possible we have a family gathering with traditional food,” said Smith. “It is hard to get everyone together, as some of our family still lives overseas. This year we will be going to Katy, TX to spend Thanksgiving with my daughter. I’m really looking forward to eating the turkey and dressing with cranberry sauce, obviously. Beyond the food, I’m so thankful for my family, our religious freedom and for Christ’s love for me and my family. I am proud of our family and their spouses. They are precious to me. I love them and appreciate them. My wife and I are fortunate to have good health and a loving family.”
Parkway Place will be hosting a large Thanksgiving buffet at the community. They are encouraging everyone to invite their families and friends out. Tables will be set up in the dining room, the foyer, the library and anywhere else where there is room. It is one of the largest family events at the community.
“We are so excited to have everyone’s families out to the community for Thanksgiving,” said Jimmy Johnson, executive director of Parkway Place. “Hearing the residents talk about what they are thankful for really puts everything into perspective. We are all guilty of taking things for granted. Seeing their faces light up as they spend time with their children and grandchildren is the best part for us.”
“Each day is a gift, and I wake up looking for positive things to do each day,” expressed Richardson. “I find joy in helping others or brightening their day, and I try to make the best of the day that I have been given. I learned a lesson a long time ago from a lawyer who I dated. I was coming home from teaching school and he was leaning on the wall outside of my apartment. He extended a beautiful bouquet of flowers to me. I said, ‘What are these for?’ to which he replied, ‘I lost my case today, and I knew what would make me feel better and that was to do something nice for you. So, I picked you up some flowers.’ He showed me that there is nothing better than doing something for somebody else when you’re feeling down. By helping others, there will be happiness for us.”
Richardson said that as a child she was most thankful to eat all the delicious food that was around the house that they normally did not have, like the turkey and dressing with cranberry sauce and the pumpkin pie. Now that she is older, she values her relationship with God and her good health. She also appreciates that she is fortunate enough to live in a free country.
“This year I will begin a new Thanksgiving tradition,” said Richardson. “I usually meet my friends at the Marriot for a Thanksgiving feast, but this year, I’ve invited them to my home at Parkway Place where there will be a grand scale celebration of thanks.”
“Having lived overseas for 31 years, I can appreciate our freedom and the religious freedom we have in the United States,” said Smith. “Most people don’t think much about it, but when you live in a different country it opens your eyes. I did missionary work overseas for much of my life. I feel like we all need to be more thankful for simple amenities like having easy access to food, good roads to drive on and running water. These are not things to complain about, but reasons to be thankful.”
While Smith was overseas with his family, they would still celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. His wife would stock up on Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), they would invite all 18 of their fellow workers in Iraq over for dinner and have a special celebration of thanks. Since they have moved back to the US, he started the tradition of traveling to Brownwood, TX to shoot a deer or a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. This year, he has decided to wait to go hunting until Christmas.
“Whenever possible we have a family gathering with traditional food,” said Smith. “It is hard to get everyone together, as some of our family still lives overseas. This year we will be going to Katy, TX to spend Thanksgiving with my daughter. I’m really looking forward to eating the turkey and dressing with cranberry sauce, obviously. Beyond the food, I’m so thankful for my family, our religious freedom and for Christ’s love for me and my family. I am proud of our family and their spouses. They are precious to me. I love them and appreciate them. My wife and I are fortunate to have good health and a loving family.”
Parkway Place will be hosting a large Thanksgiving buffet at the community. They are encouraging everyone to invite their families and friends out. Tables will be set up in the dining room, the foyer, the library and anywhere else where there is room. It is one of the largest family events at the community.
“We are so excited to have everyone’s families out to the community for Thanksgiving,” said Jimmy Johnson, executive director of Parkway Place. “Hearing the residents talk about what they are thankful for really puts everything into perspective. We are all guilty of taking things for granted. Seeing their faces light up as they spend time with their children and grandchildren is the best part for us.”