Turkey!

Yipeeee! That day is fast arriving where the small kitchen table turns into a progressive buffet, the top of the washer and dryer champion deserts, and family and friends huddle to watch football, laugh, reflect, and snooze. What a great time.

Not to traipse too far into an untouchable territory, but it's probably a good idea to stop and take stock of where we've been, where we are, and where we're heading. A moment of gratitude can bring a second wind and promote courage to do the tasks needed to bring about envisioned goals.

Expansion beyond our own family, circle of friends, and country to include the needs of others is commendable.

Little things do count. Don't wait -- pick one.

Send a message to a military member. Deliver a used blanket or coat to a shelter. Donate a package of rice to a food bank and nourish an elderly person. Drop loose change in the Ronald McDonald Charities collection canister and love a kid. Pick up a bouquet of flowers, put on a smile, and visit an assisted living facility. Volunteer some energy to Special Olympics. Shoot some hoops with a little via Big Brothers Big Sisters. A few bucks invested with Doctors Without Borders provides medical care, supplies, goodwill and hope to the desperate. Talk turkey to Mac for more vigorous human rights support in Sudan's Darfur region.

Thanksgiving is all about: ALL OF US!

Organizations who will get messages to our troops. http://www.americasupportsyou.com

"2006 Holiday Eagle" -- Adopt a Platoon, Box 1457, Seabrook, N.H. 03874;
aapcampaign@yahoo.com; http://adoptaplatoon.org (Adopt a military member or an entire platoon; all branches)

"Support A Soldier" -- Box 5384, Fort Hood, TX 76544; info@supportasoldier.org

"Stars & Stripes" -- Email messages to a military member you know and even upload your picture. http://holiday.stripes.osd.mil

Special Olympics Texas, 7715 Chevy Chase Drive, Suite 120, Austin, TX 78752; info@sotx.org; http://www.specialolympics.org

Big Brothers Big Sisters, 230 North 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107;(215) 567-7000; http://www.bbbs.org

Doctors Without Borders, Post Office Box 5023, Hagerstown, Md. 21741-5023; 1-888-392-0392; http://doctorswithoutborders.org

United States Representative Mac Thornberry, 905 South Fillmore Street, Suite 520, Amarillo, Texas 79101

© Coninc., TheDownsideUp.Com 2006