I fell into the Thanksgiving spirit reading another edition of Jason Gay's rules for family touch football.
The Wall Street Journal sportswriter has been doing the column for 11 years, and it's still fresh and funny.
Gay's annual rules column evokes the love and understanding of family get-togethers, the bittersweet travails of aging and the joy of new generations.
The touch-football rules column is now as much a part of the holiday as the Macy's Parade in New York City, turkey and dressing, and pro football games.
With political conflicts dividing families and Covid still hanging over the country, Gay's column celebrates shared traditions that still unite us.
The column brought memories of friends and loved ones who've passed away, and Thanksgivings of years past:
Furman Bisher's annual AJC column giving thanks for the blessings in his life.
The AJC's annual ad-heavy Thanksgiving paper.
Trips to Louisiana, Ohio and New York City. Years at home, hosting others.
Driving from Chattanooga to Atlanta with my then fiance and mother-in-law to be.
A family feast at the Waldorf Astoria and walking through snow past Radio City Music Hall to watch the Macy's parade, its famous helium-filled cartoon characters floating by, tossed by the wind.
Golf with my father at Baton Rouge's Sherwood Forest Country Club.
An LSU-Arkansas game at Tiger Stadium.
Taking my then small children to a Georgia-Georgia Tech freshman game at frigid Grant Field.
Late night trips to Hartsfield-Jackson Airport to pick up a child coming home from college and Joe, my late brother-in-law, flying in from New York City.
My now grown-up children home from school in Gainesville, Baton Rouge and Princeton.
Watching Alex Karras and the Detroit Lions beat Vince Lombardi's undefeated Green Bay Packers.
Family gatherings, the voices and laughter of so many now gone.
I'm thankful to be thankful.
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