Thanksgiving in Port Aransas, Texas 2008 included my family sharing copies of On the Wings of Cranes: Larry Walkinshaw’s Life Story and recalling our youthful days at La Charrette where our family once raised thousands of turkeys, chickens plus cattle and hogs. We gave thanks for everything unique to our shared lives from those days on our Charrette Creek, Warren County, Missouri farm forward. Multiple gifts were exchanded among family members.

My sisters (shown above, l - r) Virginia, Dorothy and Helen visited for five days, later joined by my son Scott and his family for Turkey Day celebrations. We walked the beaches, toured the area and reminisced late into the night sipping coffee from commerative La Charrette Village mugs. Conservations featured swapping family stories, books and pictures mingled with real and gag gifts.

Once again and predictably on this grand American holiday, ‘Thanks & Giving’ were combined with birds… both Walkinshaw’s endangered cranes and warblers plus the celebrated American turkey.