It finally arrived – the invitation!  This is something that I had wished and hoped for all of my life. Hallelujah, the day had arrived.

    Oh, it was just an ordinary Tuesday, I thought, but instead it became a day that will burn in my memory forever and ever, Amen! You see  I was hanging around the house, you know, marking time until Everybody Loves Raymond came on the T.V. – just a regular type day.  I think I had sorted my sock drawer and watched the clock as if I were taking medicine … didn’t want to miss a dose – but then, I don’t take medicine regularly, that is … regular being the main most word.

    I remember the telephone rang and it sounded like a chorus of angels from on high … odd, I thought, but there it was, Jingle/Jangle … Jingle/Jangle, and when I answered, my entire life flashed before my eyes. Hmm, my instinct told me that this was something BIG.

    My caller insisted that I not miss the daily mail – that something BIG would arrive.

    Yes, bigger than the senior’s 10 per cent off sale all day long each Tuesday down at the Little Bit of Magic Hair Do’s/House Siding and Tattoo Art Gallery that featured Rooster Art, and that’s pretty big! Even bigger than Uncle Big-en’s Deluxe Taxidermy Extravaganza (anything goes and no questions asked) – can’t get any bigger than that, I thought … but that was before the invitation arrived.

    Yes, it was even bigger and more important than my get-out-of-jail-free card that I’ve saved for a special occasion … more exciting than my last vacation to Alligator World where one was guaranteed a free ticket of admittance for life if losing one or two limbs while on the tour. Haven’t gotten that free ticket yet, but I might go back one day.

    And even more exciting than Big Momma’s annual Best, Bestest, Girlfriends Pajama Spend-the-Night- Party with an all-night-long Elvis jamboree. Uh-Oh, better rethink that one – this event might fit better in the “fright” category, what with the mix up of dentures,  artificial stuff, and Elvis velveteen pillows — happens each and every time.

    My watchdog, Beagle pup, Patty Cake, announced the arrival of the invitation as she yodeled her trademark, I-see-the-postman-and –I-don’t-like-him, bark but this time it was different, more urgent and soulful. Even my secretary/nurse number one kitty cat, Miss Sara Belle, seemed slightly interested although she didn’t fuzz her tail.  Hey, I knew this was going to be a good day.

    Oh, my gosh, I yelped.  Am I ready?  Am I really ready?

    You see I live a sheltered life; really I do – not that my husband would agree.  I am reminded of a Eudora Welty quote. “A sheltered life can be a daring life as well. For all serious daring starts from within.” And I’ve got plenty of stuff bubbling around “within.” But don’t ask my husband about that.  

    There is another quote that I must mention made by Tennessee Williams. “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.”

    How do these quotes made by Mississippi historic literary giants fit with this column, you might inquire? Well, not much, but it does sound good, doesn’t it?

    As I checked the medicine cabinet for the smelling salts just in case the item in my mailbox was too overwhelming, I suddenly had thoughts of mingled excitement and hysteria. Did my hair need shampooing, was my attire suitable, should I breakout that fragrance used only for special occasions, had I cleaned the litter box today? Oh my, oh my, what a day!

    As I began my ascent up the driveway, my mind whirled and swirled, twirled, and, well, you know.  I was all a-dither. Breathe-in, breathe out, breathe-in, breathe-out. Count, I commanded myself: one, two, three, err, four, five … Why do we have such a long drive, I pondered?

    FINALLY, I arrived and there it was.

~Please join us for Thanksgiving Dinner~

    YES, YES, YES! I had waited 42 years for an invitation just like that! Oh, for years and years I had hinted, cajoled, yes, even begged, but to no avail. But in this year of 2011, my time had arrived. You see there was a method to my madness – that is on the first of November each year, I would relate to my co-workers, the hair stylist, my Sunday School Class, the neighbors, strangers, oh, it didn’t matter who it was.  I would declare my utmost desire for a Thanksgiving dinner invitation, but THEY all said NO.  However the rejection didn’t hamper my great ambition of becoming a “guest” at someone’s Thanksgiving dinner. I wasn’t inclined again this year to be the purchaser, preparer, server, and cleaner-upper. NO, my plan was simple – just show up as the “eater.”

    Well, just six days away … my great ambition shall be accomplished.  Stay tuned and I will tell you all about it.

    Dear readers, my hope for you is that one wonderful day your invitation will arrive. Never, never lose hope, and as an aside, better hold on to your get-out-of-jail-free-card. You never know when it might come in handy, although I’m not sure about the jailhouse Thanksgiving menu?

    Now Christmas is only 37 days away … maybe, just maybe another dinner invitation will arrive?  I’ll just be hanging around the mailbox until then.

 

UPCOMING EVENT: Join well known author and photographer, Philip Levin, Sunday, Nov. 20, 11-2, at WEIDMANN’S. He signs Ndovu the Elephant – An African Tale (a children’s book). Each year Dr. Levin conducts a missionary trip to Kenya where he supports a medical clinic. Some of the proceeds from this book will be donated to the medical needs of the Kenyan population.

    Anne B. McKee is an author and

storyteller. She lives in Meridian. Anne is listed on the Mississippi Artist Roster, sponsored by Mississippi Arts Commission, as a dramatic and literary artist, storyteller, and as a Teaching Artist. She is active with the arts and educational communities throughout Mississippi. Visit her web site: www.annemckee.net.