Holidays

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Please believe me when I say that this was not the first time Jim had felt this way. As a boy growing up in the hills of Southwest Virginia, he remembered the fateful day when the men came and told his mother that his daddy would not be coming home again..ever. The mountain had taken yet another hard-working coal miner to its dark and cold grave. Jim had learned to live with unhappiness all of his life. So why would today, thanksgiving 2006 be any different? He was alone, as he always was. He expected that he would succoumb to the same fate that his father suffered because he too, was a miner. He had calls from long time family friends to come and celebrate this thanksgiving with them, and as always in the past, he denied the invitation. He walked outside to his car in the blistery cold snow and drove into town. He would celebrate in his own way. The anniversary of his father, sister, and grandmother had passed over to the other side on this very day. He had nothing to be thankful for. Slamming the door to his battered truck he walked into the store the door chimes jangling with its opening. He noticed over at the far end of the store near the cafe a small boy was tying his shoe and waiting on the cook to bring his food to him. Jim passed the boy as the latter looked up with a smile. Nothing was returned. The boy followed him to the ice chest where Jim proceeded to pull out his daily drink for the evening. The boy tugged on his coat. "Hey mister" Jim looked down on the boy. "What do you want kid?" Without hesitation, the boy replied "I'm thankful that I have a warm coat to wear. I'venever had a coat this warm before" Jim turned and walked towards the counter to pay for his booze. As he proceeded to walk toward the door he turned to the little boy who was expecting an answer and said, "I'm not thankful for anything kid." and with that he walked out.
-Jim was my uncle. He died 2 days later when the mountain came crashing down on him as is the fate of many coal miners. Theirs is a rough life. They are truly heroes, and I am thankful for the sacrifices they make.

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