I went on my Monday walk with my daughter this morning. It was a brisk 24 degrees, an unusually cold day for this time of year. Before we left on our journey, I bundled my little girl up so tightly she could barely put her arms down. As we walked out to the garage, she waddled up to the stroller and raised her arms in the air. As if on cue, I lifted her up and placed her in her chariot. Off we went down the lane with her steeds (the dogs) leashed to either side.
As we crested a hill, we chanced upon two of our neighbors out on their morning stroll. Logan immediately squealed in recognition of the elderly couple. “She sure looks happy this morning all bundled up with her polar bear hat on,” the gentleman said warmly. “She’s a happy baby and I think God just made her that way,” I said with a broad smile. We exchanged a few more pleasant words before the dogs began pulling at the stroller as if it were a toboggan; letting us know we needed to get on with our walk.
I leaned over and asked my daughter my typical Monday morning question, “What should Daddy write about today?” My daughter just looked up at me, giggled and pointed at her brown dog “Perrin” with her white fuzzy mitten. “Doooh-dooh,” she said. Her word for dog and anything with four legs for that matter. I’m not sure there is much of an article in writing about the dog, but keep thinking – I’m sure something will come to you.
We walked for another half a mile and started back down our little country road towards home. Off in the distance, I heard a low rumble of a diesel engine. As I turned around, another one of our neighbors pulled up in his truck and rolled his window down. A burly, weathered looking hulk of a man began waiving wildly at little Logan. A truly comical sight to behold as you could imagine. “She sure is getting bigger and bigger by the day! Are y’all fixing to have a good Thanksgiving?” he asked. “Yes! We’re looking forward to our trip down to Georgia so we can see all of our other uncles, aunts, and cousins,” I replied. About that time Logan uttered, “Ma ma ma ma ma ma ma.” “That’s right Logan! We are going to see Mama’s family,” I said as if to answer her. “Ooooooohaaa!” she exclaimed as she held her two mittens up to the sky. “Hope your family has a safe trip. And tell your wife happy Thanksgiving for me” he said as he slowly drove off in his truck.
I kissed Logan on the head and walked for another 10 minutes. I began to get lost in my thoughts reflecting on how fortunate I am to live in this sleepy little community, where neighbors still stop to talk. I asked my daughter what she thought and smiled as I saw she was fast asleep. When we arrived at the front door of our little home in the woods, I slowly lifted her out of the stroller. Gingerly, I pulled off her little mittens, hat, and boots and carefully laid her down in the crib. I whispered a soft “Thanks for a great walk together little girl” as I pulled a little pink blanket over her shoulders. For a while I stood gazing at her and just smiling. Then I quietly walked down stairs and turned on some soft classical music.
As I sat at my keyboard, I stared at a blank screen struggling to think of some sort of Thanksgiving article but nothing was coming to me. Reflecting on the morning, something dawned on me. Just a few years ago I had given up hope of ever having a child. Now as I glanced up from my computer, I’m surrounded by pictures, toys and little jackets that are quiet reminders of how blessed and thankful I am to have a wonderful daughter in my life.
I wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving! Take a moment to think about the person to whom you owe the most thanks. If you are feeling the spirit of the holiday, why not let them know…everyday!
