Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
There is something about the smell of turkey and the gathering of family and friends that make you appreciate the holidays. Even a normal conversation can seem like you're retelling a great novel.
My friends brought their twin sons to visit for Thanksgiving. While most of the family was busy trying to get a new heater installed, I was spending time with the twins. They were very curious about the hi jinx I got into as a child and teen while attending school.
I made sure not to elaborate too much or mention any stories that might encourage them to rebel against their parents. The last thing I want is hearing their voices blast, "Well, Thomas said you did." I can just hear the phone calls now.
I started to tell them a few stories about my early shenanigans. I've always liked that word but never really had an instant to use it in a story until now. As I got deeper into my stories the twins were inquisitive. They asked for specifics, relishing every minor detail. The two especially got a kick out of the story of me getting swats while I was in high school, even though the concept of me getting swats is a lot easier to believe than Santa or Rudolph.
I told them about Mike Lees, may his soul rest in peace, swatted me so hard I went over the desk.
Now the funny thing is, these stories are going on in the middle of the heater installation. So the boys would ask their father if he too had gotten in trouble. He simply told them "I also gotten swats at one time."
The two enjoyed the few stories that I shared with them and to be honest I enjoyed telling them. It wasn't out of some foolish sense of pride; it was mainly the enjoyment the two boys took in out of the stories.
Soon the conversation switched to the topics of pets. I told them about my two cats Brownie and Toby. They instantly wanted to know more about the cats and what kind of trouble they go into. I didn't even have to tell them the cats were a pair of characters and troublemakers. I showed them a video of Brownie responding to my questioning after there had been a disaster involving bread in the kitchen. The two laughed as I interrogated Brownie. With each question, Brownie just meowed and eventually rolled over in an attempt to sway my suspicion.
It was a good Thanksgiving, I enjoyed spending time with the Osborns, sharing the tales of my past.
Thomas Garcia is a senior writer at the Quay County Sun. He can be reached at: