I am thankful for this picture of me and my Uncle Roger Hines.  He is fine southern gent.  He has a mind of his own and he uses it to look out for others.  I am proud to know him.

I am thankful for memories of Hines Family Reunions past…specifically the ones way back there in the past.  As I was a youngster the Hines Family Reunion fell on Thanksgiving Day.  Wow…talk about special.  Get to Central Mississippi around Thanksgiving and you will find it decidedly warmer than it was when you left Brownstown, Indiana.  That was nice.  The food was great.  Southern cooks are the best.  So are Southern accents.  I think I have mentioned before here that Southern accents are appreciated in the Northeast much more than you would be led to believe. In our recent travels to New England the past two summers, folks have made over my accent that is part Southern Indiana and part Southern Mississippi.  What can I say?  I have been linguistically,  dialectically, and just plain blessed.  When you are asked to repeat a word because someone thinks the way you say a word in pleasant and appealing, you should be thankful and acquiesce; remember that no one ever asks someone from New Jersey to repeat anything (it is usually so loud the first time it echoes anyway).

Our Thanksgiving Reunions were something of Rockwellian nature.  Laughter.  Innate respect for our elders.  Love of family.  Love of watching football (we played out in the yard and when that game was over we would gather around and watch the Detroit Lions). A chance to learn more about family and the South.  The best food 1977 had a chance to see and eat.  Loving to get there and hating to leave.

You see, my Mother had sixteen brothers and sisters.  That may help to put things into context a little better for you.  There was a great deal of all of the things I cataloged in the previous paragraph. To say I was fortunate to be there would be an understatement.  To know I am related to such a time, place, and group of wonderful people is humbling.  There was never a better bunch to hang out with.

The photos above are of me and my Grandaddy Hines.  He died when I was eleven.  You can see a great deal of him in the picture of my Uncle Roger at the top of this post.  My Mom and my sister are in the picture top right.  Taken in Scott County, Mississippi, these photos are treasures to me.

Oh… and the football games we played (my cousins and I)…here we are in an offensive huddle.  I am on the right in a blue shirt.

The prayer my Grandaddy was known for:

He spoke the rights.

So I look back on many things…many people…many places.  When I stop and think about all the sights and sounds my dear wife, Carrie, and I have been able to witness I pause and give thanks.  It really is mind-boggling to look at where we have been and what all we have seen recently.

I am glad I had my phone handy to take this picture on a field trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Medora’s 4th grade class last spring.  Thank you, Mr. Disque.

Thankful indeed.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.

Speak the rights.

Danny Johnson