Eight o'clock this morning: bake an apple pie. The oven warms the kitchen with the fragrance of cinnamon, ginger and a touch of mace. When the pie is done, put in a couple of trays of molasses cookies; ginger and cinnamon, again, but now a whiff of cloves drift through the house.

Later on, friends will gather to share the turkey and all the trimmings, eating our fill (and more), but it is the taste of life-long friendship, shared laughter and tears and gratitude for true fellowship that will linger. Thanksgiving leftovers are gone in a few days; the feast of friendship renews itself daily.

May your Thanksgiving be filled with the joy that comes from sharing it with those you love, the memories that are made and the laughter of good friends.