I rejoice in celebrating this day when our family moved to Oak Park 32 years ago and settled in you. It's time to party like it's 1992 all over again! I give thanks for our family's many years in you, and also for my place in this community of Oak Park for 32 years.
As happens periodically, November 28 is on Thanksgiving Day, with a focus on coming together as family around a meal.
Often I have remarked that you have been a home where I have truly made a life.
Making a life has truly been real when I sat down for a meal.
Today is the kind of double holiday that evokes memories of great meals.
One particularly memorable Thanksgiving Day was in 2008. My cousin from the Denver area, Brian, and two of his Navy comrades, all three of whom had just finished boot camp, joined us for our meal. Carol Finnegan, a dear friend from church, was also there. There was a palpable sense of goodness with our family being together and other friends with us, too.
Among the great food we had for dinner day after day, pork tenderloin was an especially tasty meal, particularly when it came fresh off the grill. So much good food came off that grill.
Another significant piece of cookware was the crock pot. One year, for New Year's Day, Mom made meatballs in the crockpot. We invited both Grandmas to dinner, and both ended up staying home. As a spur-of-the-moment action, we invited our good friends, the Reiters, who lived a block away. They came with two or three of their tenants who came from other countries. It was a wonderful meal.
One year on Nativity/Christmas Day, Mom and Dad made a roast in the crockpot which included Coca-Cola.
Mom encountered lots of nice recipes. One of my favorites was taco pie. She was also really good at making enchiladas, particularly the white chicken enchiladas.
When Naomi and Eric married, they contributed fine side dishes to holiday meals, like homemade falafel and a wild rice/sweet potato dish.
All of this food gave way to wonderful smells wafting out of the kitchen. I have memories of so many pleasant smells, a signal that we would sit down and enjoy each other's company with great food.
For many Thanksgiving meals, we had a black pan that came in very handy for cooking the turkey.
The pan was a vessel for the turkey, which was a centerpiece for an august meal. It's just like you, beloved 1036 Clarence, are a vessel for a huge swath of my life and our family experience. Furthermore, you remain a centerpiece, a special place that will not fade into the background, but remain deep in my heart, deeply beloved.
Through these memories, we remain connected.
All my relations.
You are a place that deserves to be continuously remembered and celebrated.
I declare once again that we're not just lucky for our years with you, but we are blessed.
Joyful, joyful we adore the Lord!
God's blessings,
Paul
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| Mom took this photo of the cooking pan on the dining room table, both fixtures for years at 1036 Clarence |
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