Where Do I Start?

For that past 3 years my wife Sue and I have volunteered to deliver Thanksgiving baskets. The list of names we receive are gathered and vetted through a local agency. I am a member of the Magic City Lions, one of many groups who contribute money to purchase and deliver baskets. The demand this year outpaced last year’s demand, and so the Lions are purchasing and packing more.

Once the baskets are packed the lists are handed out to those of us who have volunteered to deliver the baskets, and away we go. Recent advancements in GPS technology have made finding the addresses of the families that receive baskets a lot easier. If the weather cooperates, it’s a pretty easy task to grab a basket, walk up to the door, ring the doorbell (or knock) and give whoever answers a Happy Thanksgiving and hand them the basket.
What is given in return often varies but most often includes a smile, a return “thank you” and sometimes even a hug. The whole process start to finish is about 4 hours, and well, the gratitude you receive is a lot more than the time you give.

But Lest We Forget
It would be naïve of me to think that even though we deliver a lot of baskets, that we and the other organizations helping out with Thanksgiving baskets would reach everyone in need on this Thanksgiving 2025. The need will always far outpace the resources. And then there are those who just, for personal reasons, will not call and put their name on a list.

And Giving Thanks
As I share with as many people as possible, I am a very lucky person. First, I am very thankful for the job I have working at the Northern Sentry. I get to connect with the many organizations who want to get the word out about helping others. On the flip side, we will publish photos of events like the Thanksgiving basket deliveries to give a shout out to the organizations that make it all happen.

Second, I am a frequent visitor to the Minot Air Force Base and I have the privilege of meeting and getting to know hundreds of Airmen and their families. When we are looking at a Thanksgiving holiday, we have to remember that many at the Minot Air Force base are not celebrating with their families. Instead, they are manning the missile launch facilities and on the flightline, which is a 24/7/365 days a year job. The Minot AFB simply does not shut down on any holiday. We all should be very thankful for the dedication to the mission that all of our Airmen at Minot Air Force Base have.

We should also keep in mind the hundreds of young Airmen who may be spending their first holiday away from family and friends back home. Sure, there are Thanksgiving dinners served on base, and many families join together to create a community feeling with each family contributing something. I had to laugh that one of the Airmen I know well had been invited to a Thanksgiving get together and was in a quandary about what to bring because “Hey Mr. Wilson, I have never cooked anything in my entire life, and I don’t have a car to get to town to buy a pie or anything that would do well at Thanksgiving.” My answer to him was “OK, I understand. But I bet if you called the folks who are hosting and volunteered to come early and help wherever possible, they would welcome and appreciate the help.”

As it turned out, he made the call, they accepted his offer and assured him that there would be more than enough food and not to worry about bringing anything. That’s kind of how Thanksgiving works.

And Then There Is Lutefisk!
I am going to end my column this week with a story that I have used several times…and it is a true story but still garners a laugh whenever I use it.

Our family was on the way to Thanksgiving Day dinner at grandma’s house located on a farm just north of Velva, ND. I have 3 sons and we had been talking about them trying the oft maligned Norwegian holiday fish entrée, Lutefisk. If you don’t know what Lutefisk is, ask around. Someone will eventually tell you it is the worst smelling and most undesirable dish on the Thanksgiving day table. Made from cod and soaked in lye, it is still a Thanksgiving day tradition on most Norwegian tables.

My middle son does not like fish, never has, never will. But we were nicely encouraging him to at least try a small piece of Lutefisk or he won’t “get a piece of grandma’s farm.

We sat down at the Thanksgiving day table. Ryan, my oldest, David, the middle son and Nathan, the youngest son. The Lutefisk was passed and each son, at the encouragement of their parents, took a small piece of Lutefisk.
Son #1 slowly ate his piece, and nothing drastic happened. Son #3 took his piece and really struggled to get it down, and the face he made told us this was not his favorite moment in time. And then son #2, after staring at his piece of Lutefisk and cutting it in half, put a very small piece in his mouth. As quickly as it went in, it came out…launched in a spitting motion. Even though we were a bit embarrassed what happened next even had us laughing. After spitting out the piece of Lutefisk and making the most horrid facial expression; David, son #2 exclaimed “Grandma can have the farm!”

Enough said..

Happy Thanksgiving to all…