It’s easy to be thankful for the big stuff at Thanksgiving. I’m going to focus on a few things I’m thankful for that might not be on everyone’s list.
The person who invented chain. I don’t know who invented chain, but it was a long time ago. I imagine the first version was a clover chain that a little girl made and showed her Mama, who decided her husband should make her a pretty necklace or bracelet. He adapted the idea for hauling and dragging and took credit for inventing chain, but patents had not been invented, so chains started being used for a million different things, and civilization proceeded from there.
Nose Hair. Uncle Jim was good at asking questions. One day, we were sitting on the porch and Uncle Jim asked Daddy what he did about his nose hair. Very few questions stumped Daddy, but that one got him. Subsequent research revealed that those pesky hairs serve to filter nasty little bits of air junk (like bacteria) from being breathed in. Uncle Jim could have used a filter between his brain and his mouth!
Big Black Bears. Last week in Gatlinburg, daughter Greer walked out to find a huge mama bear sitting in the driver’s seat of her Rav-4. She had left some snack treats in her glove compartment. The car door was closed, but not locked. The bear smelled the snacks, opened the door, tore off the dashboard, ate the snacks and sucked dry several ketchup packets. Then the bear just sat there for almost an hour. Wouldn't move, no matter what son William did to scare it away. She finally got bored and ambled away. I’m not sure Greer was thankful for the bear, but we’ve learned to lock car doors in bear country.
The Colt Show was originally started in Petersburg as a way for settling the important question: “Who’s raising the best horse and mule colts around here?” It grew into a successful community event for showing off everything from pies to crops to all kinds of equine stock. As people started seeking bigger and faster entertainment, both Petersburg and the Colt Show faded. Now, Petersburg is reviving and there’s a new store called Colt Show Antiques, on the south side of the square. Mike Cheatham and her sister, Lisa Pardon, have just opened it and it’s a great addition to all the things going on in the town that straddles the Lincoln and Marshall County line.
Try Beef for Thanksgiving. Lincoln County is the number one beef cow-calf county in Tennessee. I’m not sure where we rank in turkey production, but it ain’t high. Daddy liked a crown roast for Thanksgiving. Even if it’s hamburger, beef tastes great on Turkey Day.
Time. Time is infinite, but I never seem to have enough. Einstein figured out how to bend time. Half time is good for commercials. I’m not a fan of cell phone facetime. Lastly, I am thankful that folks spend precious time reading these words I arrange into a column for the Elk Valley Times.
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