This year's Thanksgiving was different in nearly every aspect of tradition. We had ham instead of turkey, there were only four of us (the older and the younger Barbers), and the usual activities were not to be found. For the younger barbers the day started off on possibly the most down of notes that could be found. We awoke to a broken furnace and wet wood that we had been unsuccessful at keeping lit. The house was a cool 54 degrees Fahrenheit and we had no prospects of making it warmer, ever. Thankfully Holly was able to get a fire going through perpetual fire-tending, and combined with the oven cooking our share of the family meal, we were able to get some heat.

Dinner was later in the day to allow Papa more work time on his two story tool “shed”. Dinner was good, and we called Adam to wish him a happy Thanksgiving, and included him in our evening. We played a couple of games and watch a loser of a movie (not the usual “Trains, Planes, and Automobiles”). This year Thanksgiving day was a calm, quiet, lonely, and slightly boring affair.

The day after found me perched precariously atop the second story of what felt like a rickety scaffold, holding long strips of tar paper while Papa tried not to kill himself while tacking it down. Apart from the wind, the rain, the hail, the torrential downpour, the cold, and the fear that one of use would plummet ten or twelve (or so) feet to an uncomfortable landing upon some rocks, it was a good day. Sadly one full day was not enough to get the “tool shed” done, and the next day found me out again (sans the bad weather) and with the help of our friend Jeff Nine we got it done in just a few short hours.

As a side note, the day after Thanksgiving we were rather rudely awakened by having our electricity go off. Since Holly had to go to work all day, and she needed light to get ready we rushed off to my parents's place so she could get ready.

Thanksgiving was odd and its aftermath was a little crazy, but I suspect it will be nothing compared to the Christmas we have planned (the Murray clan is coming up for Christmas hosted at our little home). Time will tell.