Well, I'm back. No, I didn't go far - only as far as my kitchen. The output was impressive, if I do say so myself. I had help. One of my stepdaughters produced her fabulous baked sweet potatoes, the leftovers of which I shamelessly commandeered. (She got a nice take home bag and freshly made turkey soup, so, not to worry, a fair trade). A friend brought me a pan of Liberian collards with cabbage. A good time was had by all at our house although I never did get in that game of Scrabble I keep saying I am going to have one day. Maybe, when the kids get old enough to help (yeah, right).

We tend not to turn on the TV during holidays except of course for the Thanksgiving Day parade, but there were pictures in my head anyway. Before I left work last week we reported the story about new USDA report saying food insecurity was on the rise in this country. The New York Times had a story over the weekend talking about how the use of food stamps is on the rise. So, yes, all the people out of work this year, some of them relatives, are very much on my mind. I know their savings are busted. I know many are living close to the edge. I know they wonder if anybody cares.

All I can tell you is, yes, we do.