SECOND HELPINGS

-- going home again --

Quiet in the car, with the sound of heater and cold tires on a long, lonely back road; us thinking how grandpa and his old team were never too cold to hitch-up for family.

The fields are covered in snow and ice. A window light shines warm to guide us. Smokes curls from the old stone chimney. Smiles, family and Thanksgiving combine.

Smell delicious scents of days of cooking; demand a full investigation of the kitchen. There are stories, markers, prayers, food, new children to add to the family fortunes.

Hugs and kisses, and many pictures later we stagger to a warm bed and thick quilt still full of thanksgiving and time to love. Wrapped closer together, grateful tonight.