November 28 – “Turkey Bowl”

The Turkey Bowl did take place once again this year.  The tradition continues.  In honor of new starts and Galveston's new normal, we went back to the early days of the Turkey Bowl.  The game took place out in the street in front of our house.  That's how we used to play back when I was in junior high school – "Two below" out in front of my cousins' house … in the street.    We didn't begin at High Noon, though.  Our participants slowly arrived in true Galveston time form.  Nathan and April.  Cory and Josh.  Kel and Jachin.  Marcus.    April did play. In fact she completely took Nathan out on one play.  Tackled him right in the street.  Then she smacked him right in the face on another one.  They had quite the little rivalry going.    Jachin played, too.  He's just six years old.  On his first kickoff we gave him the ball and he raced the length of the field – er, street – for as touchdown.  It was better that Texas vs. A&M.  We all played strictly for fun.  And we had fun.  None of us wanted to quit, but we were rapidly approaching our breaking points.  Nathan asked me if I was tired, and I told him, "I started the game tired.  Don't use how I feel as a benchmark."  He asked Cory, and the decision was made.  Halftime.  Which, by the way, in a Turkey Bowl game traditionally means the game is over.  Once we stop it is next to impossible to get started again.   We were drinking some water that April brought out when we noticed Mom sitting on the floor near the front door.  Yes.  On the floor.  Chris and I rushed over.  She had slipped on the rug.  A few of the guys came over and helped her up.  She said she was fine, but she may be sore tomorrow.   After sharing a piece of pie, everybody left but family.  So we began the process of decorating for Christmas.  That's quite an ordeal when you have no idea what decorations you have.  Nathan crawled up into the attic where we stored what little we were able to salvage as well as the many things people gave us last Christmas.  We got the new tree put together, and Christina and April strung more lights on it than we have ever had – with a little help from Nathan.  We had to totally rearrange the furniture, and Nathan and Kel took their orders in that department pretty well.  Chris will go through the rest of the boxes and see what we actually have.  As soon as we can get some of those hooks they make, Nathan and April said they wanted to help us hang our outside lights.  Ho.  Ho.  Ho.   Ephesians 1:3 says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."   Father, thank you for a really fun day.  I'm exhausted.  I will be very sore tomorrow.  But today was very special.  Thank you.  Amen.