The Palmer Empty Chair and Extra Plate

This is an annual Palmer Thanksgiving tradition which is simple but meaningful. Set a symbolic empty chair and place-setting for those who are not with us at the Palmer dinner table. It’s hard to feel joy and gratitude when you are feeling the loss of a missing friend or family member. So by offering an empty chair and extra plate, we recognize this person as a welcome guest. This isn’t ghostly hocus-pocus. It means that this person is always invited, remembered and welcomed; that personal recognition is an honor. The guest may not have have a lot to offer in the way of conversation, but by giving them a space, you are giving those loved ones both a silent voice and recognized presence. The empty chair is a significant placeholder and a gratifying memory of folks who have been dearly loved, but are now unavailable because of death, illness, domestic violence, drugs, strife, service, virus, or distancing. Give them a chair and serve them up. The symbolic empty chair may have to embrace multiple people…but that’s okay…let them all snuggle in.

Palmer Happy Thanksgiving—It’s food and abundance time. Hopefully for everyone. The Valley has many generous groups, stretching out and sharing food at this time of year. This is the best holiday of the year because it focuses on friendship, community and family and not on candy, gifts, hearts or fireworks. This holiday really resonates about sharing with others. Are there some strays in your life? Bring them in to your family dinner and warm house filled with delicious aromas. You may not imagine how healing this inclusion can be.

Turkey Week—This is the notable week for Turkeys. Everywhere you look in Palmer, are turkeys. This is the hardest week for grocery store cashiers because they have to lug and pack those big turkeys. If you look in some of the cars parked in town, more than one vehicle has a frozen turkey defrosting in a tub on the back seat. Again, this is a totally Valley tradition. Most all of the local live turkeys have had their big date by now and are now awaiting attention on Thursday. Some are basking on back decks, some are squashed in refigerators, and some are lazily laying in coolers in the garage. But they will be at attention on Thursday morning. Some will be deep fried; and some will be smoked. But the vast majority of Palmer turkeys will be slipped into the oven, beside local vegatables and pies, to indulge in a lengthy, roasty hot nap.

Snow Drop, Power Out, Wind On—It’s been a weary week for many in the Palmer area. We have had significant snow falls, major wind, zero temps and accompanying power outages. It’s so hard to keep going with these consecutive and challenging weather related events. Plowing, shoveling, keeping vehicles running, keeping vents clear, avoiding roofalanches, scraping ice is all weary work. Thankfully we have some major plow-masters, friends and neighbors that step up, over and over. Huge thanks go out to the linemen at MEA for their dilligence and committment. Huge thanks go out to first responders. Huge thanks go out to the stranger that helps us dig out our car from a drift. Huge thanks go out to the neighbor that drops off a lantern in the dark. Huge thanks goes out to the friend who drives 15 miles to deliver a hot pot of chicken soup. Folks, this is what it is all about: this season of trial and this season of Thanksgiving. We live in the Palmer community where people care about each other and it shows ever single day. If you are in a good spot, be a helper. If you are in a bad spot, let others help you. Happy Thanksgiving to all and remember to be grateful and gracious. And have a piece of pie or two.

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. She shares the good stuff in the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz Column in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222