"Using life experiences to inspire, encourage and educate others is why I write. I believe sharing our stories helps us to realize we're not alone; that others have struggled, hurt, failed and got back up and found their way. I hope my stories make you think, laugh and feel grateful. - Deana LandersFeatured Short Story
A Different Kind of Turkey Dinner
When we all met in St. Augustin, Florida, to celebrate Thanksgiving, there was a reason why suggesting a clambake for Thanksgiving did not go over very well with our children. It brought back memories of a traumatic Thanksgiving meal that caught them off guard long ago.
Our three children were elementary school age when we spent our first Thanksgiving with their grandparents in Missouri. They lived in a big brick house surrounded by 10 acres of rocky land on a rural road at the Ozark Mountain’s foothills.
My father-in-law had two ponds stocked with all kinds of fish. It was an unforgettable moment as I watched him assist the children with casting their line into the water. They were instantly gratified by an unsuspecting "big one" as the fish latched onto their baited hook.
However, our youngest son said his most poignant memory of that moment was a little different from mine. It was the fact that he had seen his grandpa feeding the fish with the same fish food that they were using to bait the hook that stood out in his mind.
He remembered feeling sorry for the unsuspecting fish as they hungrily devoured thei...
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