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, or distance. 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.

Palmeranians are grateful—This is a crowd-sourced collective response: We are grateful for: alpenglow; family; friends; beautiful sun sets and sun rises; visits from relatives; the ability to drink good water from the tap; people; the earth; food; art; today; jobs that pay living wages; not getting too much snow; calling Palmer Home; good Palmer employees and public works; our lovely little town; teachers; kind folks; Palmer people; good dog owners with lovely leashed dogs; turkeys; snow shovels; Palmer holiday lights; Palmer’s amazing small business community; Palmer’s shaggy cows; Fireside Bookstore and all the employees; windless days; sanded roads; pen pals that eventually become sweethearts; angel soft toilet paper; talented husbands and skilled mechanics; daylight; heated home; nice neighbors; straight floors; bathroom doors; stubbed toes which cause one to slow down; colorful warm socks; yoga pants; Perhaps the most meaningful of all these great answers is this: the kindness of strangers, good neighbors, and resilient hearts. Grace and mercy are easy to find in Palmer. Happy Thanksgiving.

Turkey Final Adventure—This week last week’s frozen store turkey rode in backseat for awhile and today it becomes the defrosting bathtub bird. On Thursday morning it will leap into the kitchen sink to become the scary naked, hairless big bird that will frighten dogs and babies when it is lifted and looks stretched out and headless. (of course adults have to make really bizarre noises for the headless dripping bird while pulling out awkward looking innards and strange little bags of guts). After that strange bath and anointed ointment, some naked turkeys will march into a pot for deep frying or onto a grill for smoking. But the vast majority of Palmer turkeys will be slipped into the oven, beside local vegetables and pies, to indulge in a lengthy, roasty hot nap.

Special Palmer Fireworks—Saturday is the annual 7:19 firework show, thanks to Stan Guthrie. He has singularly purchased and produced this community celebration show for years. This event is significant to Stan personally but he shares his huge joy with the entire community. Preceding the fireworks show there will be fun, music and food at 5:30 in the Borough Gym. This isn’t a private party…Stan shares his happiness and proud salvation with the world.

Small Business Saturday—is a delightful event this weekend. It focuses on the small, dependable, locally-owned shops in Palmer. These shopkeepers keep our downtown alive and provide continual services. They are the ones that offer donations to your sports teams and nonprofits. They are the ones that are open in icky weather. The owners are your neighbors. Small Business Saturday celebrates the local merchants. On the converse—Big Black Friday and Cyber Monday is the consumer focused on big box stores and online shopping—which, frankly, isn’t Palmer, at all. You need to make your choice and spend your clams locally if you believe in local sustainability or our town.

Palmer Alaska Buzz Suggestion—Just go into Palmer town on Saturday. Start at the end of one block and walk to the other end. Don’t be destination oriented. Wander. Explore. You will find many new things, places and meet many great people. This is a pedestrian place and very few towns have this lovely walkable townscape. Check out businesses on the side streets as well. And if you can’t find it in Palmer, chances are you really don’t need it!

The Palmer Alaska Buzz/aka Barbara Hunt is grateful for newspaper subscribers, readers and social media contributors that keep our life buzzing. Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. 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. Her contact is bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222.