Dear fellow Hanoverians:
Thanksgiving, our uniquely American holiday, is without a doubt my
favorite holiday. My memories of Thanksgivings past include dinner
with my Dad’s mother and wondering how she could actually like
creamed onions, a dish that now graces my table each year in her
memory. I remember that there was always so much to be thankful for,
but there was also something special about the way my father said the
blessing on Thanksgiving that transcended simple thanks. I recall that
there were years that we traveled from my home state of New York to my
aunt and uncle’s house in Marshfield, Massachusetts for
Thanksgiving, including the first year after my Dad passed when I was
but 24. I’ll never forget how Mom’s mother used to “hold
court” and challenge each of her grandkids to political and
religious debates that would probably offend a casual visitor, but
that would simply endear each of us to her more over a slice of her
lattice-crusted pecan pie. There were a couple of years where I gave
up time with my family to serve Thanksgiving dinner to the guests of
the Pine Street Inn in Boston. For most of the past twenty-two years
though, I have loved cooking Thanksgiving dinner for my family and
various guests right here in Hanover.
My grandfather’s family is descendant from John Alden and Priscilla
Mullins, two Pilgrims who shared deer, corn and shellfish with Squanto
and Massasoit and other Wampanoags on the first Thanksgiving in 1621.
Those Pilgrims overcame considerable challenges, followed their
convictions, and demonstrated considerable courage and strength just
to be there that day. Today here in Hanover we are mostly a fortunate
mix of descendants of those first celebrants and lucky immigrants.
Most of us have a lot to be thankful for as we share their and our
good fortune just a few miles away from where it all started.
Yesterday was the Hanover Visiting Nurse’s distribution day for
those in Hanover who are less privileged than most. My town hall
office is just down the hall from the HVNA, and I watched as the
donations piled onto the tables in the garage all week. Yesterday, a
steady stream of grateful visitors took home fruit baskets from
Center-Sylvester children and canned goods from Hanover Middle School
children, and stocked their shelves with dry goods from Hanover High
School students and numerous other generous souls. Right here in
Hanover our neighbors are overcoming considerable challenges,
following their convictions to feed their families, and demonstrating
considerable courage and strength just to be there yesterday. The
spirit of Thanksgiving lives on down my hallway and right next door to
you. Enjoy your Thanksgiving Day tomorrow and please join me as I
count my blessings to be among you in this special little town we call
home.
For “Around Town on the Web”,
Cathy H-B
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