Dear Reader:

Traditions date back to the earliest human civilizations… actually since the dawn of time. They fulfill four criteria for achieving the ” Four B’s”- Being, Belonging, Believing, and Benevolence.

Since traditional gatherings outlive generation after generation… they make us feel connected to the ones who came before us and those who will follow. The human being might be mortal but through generational ancestors we can all live forever… remembered for being part of a living tradition.

Traditions show us that we don’t live in a vacuum-but that this period of time we live in…is connected to all time… the time that preceded us and the time that will follow us-we become part of something larger than ourselves, part of the eternal mystery taking place in ” the fabric of life.”

We have just finished celebrating Thanksgiving with Christmas racing towards us at breakneck speed… to be followed just as quickly by the next holiday. The largest component of family storytelling centers around family holidays. ” Do you remember that Thanksgiving long ago when Bobby…? ”

The old adage in this part of the country is ” In the South… first comes Faith,then family and then football! ” And so it does… and today all the families are descending on Tommy and Kaitlyn’s home to watch the Clemson-Carolina game… a tradition ” older than dirt” one announcer once commented. ( Well almost 1896!)

For a grandmother… no matter the occasion … holiday or football game…just happy to see all the family together at one time. It gets harder and harder to pull these gatherings off anymore with 100% participation!

I love the Tiger Paw surrounded by birds/I was awakened Friday morning by the sound of flocks of birds landing… when I looked out the B&B side… I thought for a moment it had snowed… white seabirds had flown in and were eating away in front of the house. Tommy and Kaitlyn had not seen them before! A ” Black Friday” white-feathered God Wink !

So until tomorrow… May blessings protect both team’s players today and keep them safe from injury… and may they, in return, realize just how blessed they are to live in this country … the country of the free and the brave… remembering those who sacrificed everything for them to enjoy the thrill of sports and competition at home!

Today is my favorite day… Winnie the Pooh!