Thanksgiving - There's an empty seat at our table.

We made it through Father's Day, their anniversary and his birthday. Now come the holidays where even though there will be a crowd, the table will seem empty. Dad always enjoyed the meals with family. Sometimes he'd grumble about how much food was on his plate. Especially as he got older. He'd always complain that was one way to ruin an appetite.

Could have been Gary's toffee that did it or the before dinner "treats" we laid out. He loved visiting with everyone and always had a story to tell - it may have been one we'd heard before but it seemed like it always had a different spin on it.

Last year we took some family pictures. We all tried to do it casually around his wheelchair but you could tell he wasn't feeling up to par. He and Mom had to ride over in the ambulance and then it seemed like it came to get them too soon. Somehow, in my gut, I felt that his time was getting limited. Time - life just steals it from us. I wonder if anyone ever felt they had enough time to share with those they love?

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. We have plenty to be thankful for, but it will be bittersweet just the same.

Take five minutes, call someone you've meant to call - just say Hi and savor the fact that you can.

Hi Dad...