I've owned a bakery for 35 years now. The Thanksgiving holiday is the most demanding bakery production week of the year. Carole just said to me, "I can't do this anymore, it's just too physically demanding."

        She's right, I have noticed the last few years being very tired, literally dragging myself through the meal. I'm probably in bed by 7:30. However, my reply was "well, we've survived so far." She immediately countered, "yeah, but is it worth it? We lose the meaning of what Thanksgiving is supposed to be all about."

        Knowing when I am ahead of the game, I ended that discussion. The thought going through my mind is, what about all the big stores opening up at 8PM on Thanksgiving, what is their respect for the meaning of Thanksgiving?

        Well, my grandmother always said, "don't worry about what somebody else does, worry about what you do."

Yesterday I was looking in my desk drawer for my metric conversion chart. Instead I found a note from one of our former student employees. I'd like to quote a small part.

"It's been 8 years since I first started working for you. I can't begin to thank you for always welcoming me back with open arms to work Thanksgiving, Christmas, and summers; I consider the Reinwald's family. You've seen me transform from a timid 16 year old into a 22 year old college graduate (soon to be a lawyer). You've been a part of my growth into the woman I am now, and for that, I am thankful."

        Fighting back a few tears my vision became clear. The meaning of Thanksgiving for me is the people around me, how they affect me and what effect I have on them. What part does each of us play in the master plan? Take joy in your small successes and be sure to thank a higher power for your abilities and blessings.