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EDITOR IN CHIEF
Ryan Frank
EDITORIAL EDITORS
Kameron Cole
Stefanie Knowlton
As you
hustle home
for the
holiday,
take the time
to
appreciate
what you
have and
remember
those with
less
Opinion
Amy
Goldhammer
Somewhere, a table is set with
lace and candles. A mother waits
for a child to enter through the
door, home from school with bags
packed sloppily and 5 pounds of
laundry.
A puppy is curled up in front of
a fire with a 4-year-old in a new
taffetta dress, a satin sash tied in a
big bow in the back. Her tights are
sagging around her ankles.
She’s not cold, even though the
door is open.
Across the street, perhaps in
North Dakota, or Chicago, maybe
Bora Bora — depends how long the
street is — a house looks sad. The
snowman in the front has melted
and now leans sideways toward
the ground. The carrot nose has
been taken, perhaps a dinner for
someone else.
The mother closes the door, 5
pounds of laundry in the front hall
way, and the 4-year-old in the
taffetta dress howls, because she
wasn’t cold and wanted to give the
heat she wasn’t using to the out
side, because it’s cold.
Ana somewnere, someone wisn
es they had called that person they
knew was alone, because a lover
left or someone died.
A line of people, huddled as if a
family, waiting for a meal of warm
bread on this day of thanks, given
to them by someone in a hat.
And, somewhere, someone sits
in front of a candle or two, hugging
their knees to their chest, watching
raindrops slide down a window
pane. The outside air is dark, and it
smells like snow.
Footsteps below and a person is
scavaging through a bin, looking
for something to warm a belly, but
not a heart.
The someone in the window
looks away.
They’re cold enough already.
Thanksgiving. A time in the win
try autumn season where friends
and family gather around a table,
enjoying each other’s company
and rekindling old memories. A
table fdled with food and wine,
and laughter echoing through the
house.
However, at this time of giving
thanks, people should remember
that not all are as fortunate and
blessed. Many find themselves
alone, cold and hungry. \
At Thanksgiving time, especial- J
ly, people should consider what
they can do to help. Buying extra
things at the grocery store to con
tribute to food banks is a simple
but significant step people can
take, or taking time out of the vaca
tion to go help at a soup kitchen or
meal distribution center.
Instead of throwing away extra
food, donating the leftovers to shel
ters or food banks could help pro
vide needy families with a Thanks
giving meal. Knowing that
someone is actually taking the time
to care could make a difference in
someone’s holiday.
For some, being alone at this
time of year can bring on depres
sion ana lonnness. reopie snouia
take into consideration that, at this
time particularly, just letting some
one know they are cared about
could warm a heart.
Being in the company of family
and friends may add joy and secu
rity to the season.
Thanksgiving is a time when
people should open their hearts
and outstretch a hand. People
should consider what they can do
to help those less fortunate, be
thankful that they can help, or at
least, realize that not everyone is
reminiscing with friends and fami
ly, or sitting by a fire in a new dress
with a big bow in the back.
Amy Goldhammer is a columnistfor
the Emerald. Her views do not neces
sarily represent those of the newspa
per.
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