When The Holidays Find You Alone

It is that time of year again. Carols are playing on the radio and turkeys are on sale at the grocery store. People start talking about going "home for the holidays" and the pressure is on to make that perfect meal, the perfect table setting. Cue the music, dim the lights, insert the laughter...

For some, there is no laughter, no warmth of family. Like for Kelly, Whose family has estranged her children and grandchildren won't be coming to have the perfect meal- they won't even call. The smell of a TV dinner fills her house as she puts in a DVD of 'Holiday Inn' and scoots the cat Mylow out of the chair. Looking out the window she sees the neighbors kids playing tag with 1/2 a dozen cousins. For a minute, those faces become her children's, oh what she would do to go back to those days just for a moment. She glances at the phone- knowing it will never ring.

For Sarah, she has a husband and children and so much cooking to do but oh - for  the empty chairs. Christmas is at her house this year because momma is gone. She picks out a turkey realizing that she does not even know how to cook one - it was always just there cooked to moist golden perfection on the table ready to carve. She wished she could call her and ask her all her secrets to say that she loves her just one more time.

Kat is not really alone for Thanksgiving just in a new town with the kids and Danny has deployed again. It has been so long she can't remember what it feels like to have him there. She tries to be strong and hold it all together- But... If only he were here today-.

Truman can smell the turkey and gravy from his room at Shady Glenn Nursing Home. He knows it is about time to eat but still, he lingers. Hoping, someone will arrive and take him home. He glances at the clock on the wall wondering what is keeping them surely this year they will remember him...