A Different Thanksgiving

The woman across the Thanksgiving table from me couldn’t speak a word of English.  Neither could the man two spaces to my left.  Yet, the meal was festive with everyone joking and laughing, with help by a teenager and a wife interpreting our conversation..

Peter tutors, as  a volunteer, a young boy in an inner city school and invited him and his family for Thanksgiving dinner.  After spending 19 years in a refugee camp in Rwanda, the family, including five children ranging in age from middle school to 19 years old, migrated to the United States.  All of the children spoke English and seemed quite bright.

A Chinese woman with a Ph.D. has been working in Peter’s  lab for over four years.  Her husband doesn’t speak English and stays home with an exceptionally bright, outgoing child of about six.  They return to China next year and Chen will have her own Lab at a university in China.

Before dinner, Peter taught the children how to play chess.  Then they went to the basement with Ben and Jack to play on the X-Box.  I heard lots of laughing and shouting coming from the basement.

Jennifer put on a magnificent meal, including three desserts.  She amazes me.

On Saturday after Thanksgiving, the only person showing up at my club to fly radio control airplanes was an Asian young man who I had never met before.  Shortly after, an Asian couple with two adorable daughters came to watch the man fly.  

I almost invited them for Thanksgiving dinner at Jennifer’s next near, but decided I’d better ask her first..

Seasoned Man

Stevelem117@gmail.com

39 to 3

My 2006 Toyota Corolla and I are both getting along in years.  While seven years of a human life is said to equal one year in a dog's life, my guess is eight human years is about one car year.  Since my Corolla is 10 years old, that puts me and my Corolla about the same age - 80 years old.

My Corolla and I both have annual maintenance to keep us going.  I’m fairly healthy and my car is also in good shape, so I thought I would do a comparison.  

I keep a notebook in my car to record trips to the doctor for income tax purposes.  I was shocked when I checked it last week - 39 trips.  Except for a clot in my leg, I haven’t had any serious health issues.  Records for the Corolla show three visits for maintenance:  new tires and two routine 5,000 mile oil changes.  Thirty-nine to three is not close.

So this leaves me with a question.  Did Toyota make a better product than Mom and Dad?

Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com