Ramona correspondent
Aren’t holidays just grand? I found myself anticipating our Thanksgiving getaway this year more than usual, even though I have a life that I like waking up to every day.
There’s a magic quality to the holidays that occurs this time of year, and I think it’s because most everybody that lives in this part of the world is doing the exact same thing. Deep down, we all have a connection through these common rituals, even though on the surface we have no connection at all.
As Pat and I jumped in the car on Thanksgiving morning and headed down I-70 for Lawrence to have Thanksgiving with our cousins, Joe and Janet Fike, I looked at all the cars dashing both directions on the freeway. I imagined all the “moments of arrival” that bubbled with laughter, comforting hugs, and affectionate kisses.
I envisioned bustling kitchens, where families and friends conjured delightful dishes with savory scents.
I knew that for several families in Ramona, this was the first Thanksgiving without a cherished loved one. For others, there were new faces at the table as a son brings home a girlfriend, a daughter becomes engaged, or a new baby arrives.
But most of all, I pictured the contentment one feels when sitting down to eat a meal — sumptuous or simple — with people you cherish.
What a wonderful way to nourish one’s body and soul. I always think my food digests ever-so-well in such joyful circumstances.
“Oh, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving!” exuded Norma Wright when I called. “My granddaughter, Jenny, and her husband came the night before from Salina. They came early to help me do the cooking. We also had fun playing 10-point pitch. Jenny and I stomped Zeb and Robert, and we didn’t cheat a bit!” she added with glee.
What made the pitch game so unusual was that Jenny’s husband, Robert, is blind, and so they used Braille cards to play the game.
“Playing with a partner is hard even when you can see,” Norma said, “so it’s amazing to watch Robert play.”
Robert defies many of the limitations that we sighted people might imagine. He has his master’s degree in business, he hunts, and he cooks. He and Jenny have now embarked on the adventures of parenting, with their son, Ben, who is 7 months old.
“Family came throughout Thanksgiving Day,” continued Norma. “After lunch, I just went into the living room and put my feet up. I figured they’re all grown-ups and they can do the cleaning,” she said with laughter.
Fern Leach, who lives here in Ramona and is Norma’s daughter, is heading to Wichita this week to begin chemo treatments in anticipation of her stem cell transplant procedure Dec. 24.
“We’re praying that one transplant will do it,” Norma said. “Most of the procedures will be outpatient, and Fern will know the results of this transplant sometime in February.”
Norma reported that the recent fundraiser to help Fern with medical expenses — Nov. 14 in Herington — was a great success.
“Everyone was so generous,” Norma said.
Marge Stroda and her son, Art, had a busy Thanksgiving Day, visiting several family members throughout the day. Marge had lunch with her mom, Amelia Vinduska, who at 103 years old, lives in Marion. Later in the day, she went to Salina with Art.
“Mom went to see my sister, Elaine (Carpentier), while I went to see my daughter, Sara (Smith), and her family,” Art said. “Then later I went and got her and brought her back to Sara’s. We had fun playing with my grandson, Conner.”
Upon returning home, Art inspired us all to get out and finish our Christmas decorations. He and Jeannie Goza were seen on main street putting lights on various buildings. Pat and I were at the other end of the street, doing the same.
Art’s brother-in-law, David Staatz, is usually the first to get his Christmas lights up. He outlined the house, the gate, the fence, and it’s a bright sight on the north end of D Street.
Brendan and Michele Bailey and their kids Ronnie and Cheyenne had grandparents as guests for Thanksgiving. Michele’s mom, Debbie Harrington, came for dinner. Debbie recently moved to Hope from Wichita. Nate Bailey, Brendan’s dad, and Judy Gratz came from right here in Ramona.
“Brendan did most of the cooking,” Michele said. “I had to work that day. Judy did the turkey and Cheyenne, with a little help, made three pies for dessert — apple, cherry, and peach.”
This was the first Thanksgiving without Michele’s dad, who lived nearby in Hope.
“It was different,” Michele said, as she paused and tried to explain what it felt like to be without her dad. I could tell that no adjectives could really explain how she felt.
“My dad used to do all the cooking. We had a really nice Thanksgiving even though he was missing.”
Steve and Vickie Jirak had two Thanksgiving dinners.
“We had one on Thanksgiving Day with 14 people, and another on Sunday with 19,” Vickie said. Many of the folks at the first dinner were also at the second.
Vickie and Steve’s youngest son. Elias turned 7 years old.
“I remember seven years ago when Elias was about to arrive,” Vickie said. “I had everything decorated, and presents bought and wrapped.”
The Jiraks had the family celebration this past weekend, since Seth was home from college. Then Elias had another celebration at school.
Kathy and Don Matkins spent Thanksgiving in Salina with Kathy’s sister, Sheri, and her family. Kathy’s daughter, Jenny, was also there. Jenny lives in Salina, and works as a nurse at Salina Regional Hospital.
“We took the turkey and ham, and also made sweet potatoes,” Kathy said.
The sweet potatoes came from the Mississippi hunters who stayed in Ramona for 10 days to hunt. They leave sweet potatoes every year as thanks to Jeannie Goza who cooks for them, for Pat and me for staying at our guesthouses, and for the generous families in the community who allow them to hunt on their property.
When the hunters left, Jeannie put three large containers of sweet potatoes in the post office and Ramona residents took them home. I’d guess Mississippi sweet potatoes appeared on quite a few tables.
The rest of the Ramona Thanksgiving news will be in next week’s newspaper.