Thanksgiving at the Jackson’s

November 26, 2004

Photos

We strive to make Thanksgiving a holiday like we grew
up with. The turkey, food, deserts, family, and friends all together for
a day of relaxing and fun. At the Jackson ranch we have many things to
be thankful for. The day started like most households cleaning and cooking
and generally preparing for the feast and company. However, two inches
of rain yesterday can only mean one thing- Brave Wave! Yes, we kept our
ears open until we heard the sirens going off meaning they are about to
pop a gate or two. With 18,000 cfs coming into the lake it rose 17 feet
in twelve hours and would surely mean the spill gates would be opened
at any time. Our dinner was planned for 2pm. At noon the sirens went off.
Dane was already dressed in anticipation of the event. Dane and I went
to the river, Clay was having 27 people for his dinner at his new house
(next door to mine) and couldn’t break away. Curtis and Corey were already
there and got a run of the falls in before the really high water. Dane
and I surfed the wave for an hour or so after Curtis and Corey left and
that brings me to me first thing to be thankful for, Dane. What a great
kid he is. I can honestly say that there is nothing more rewarding than
sitting in that eddy and watching him paddle up the eddy after a big surf,
grinning ear to ear and yelping, Yahooo! We shared a special moment there.
It is great to have a holiday specifically designed to look around you
and be thankful for what you have. We, of course, immediately decided
that we are truly thankful for the Brave Wave and the 2" of rain
that turned it into a 10,000 CFS surfing zone.

Getting home to our ranch and seeing Kristine and her
mom finishing up the dinner was also a special moment. Kristine loves
to cook and it is awesome when her and her mom do something together like
make a feast. Emily didn’t paddle on this day since she got her hair done
and needed one more day before she could get it wet. She certainly could
play football. Emily, Dane, and I played football in every state from
Tennessee to California on our trip west. It is a game where I am the
quarterback and always play offense and the kids play against each other.
Emily is incredible at catching so is almost impossible to beat. Dane
is a great quarterback so when he gets behind, I go out and he throws
to me. Emily is also a great quarterback but we would kill Dane if I was
the receiver. Football seems to be a part of the Jackson family thanksgiving
too. We play on my flying field in the back yard.

Curtis and Maria, and Corey Volt were over for dinner,
and games. After the ultimate feast with Turkey, Stuffing, Mashed and
sweet potatoes, homemade noodles, red cabage, etc. etc., good wine and
beer, and then homemade apple and pumpkin pie, oh yea, we played a dice
game. Kristine’s mom is pretty much unbeatable, I think.

Well, that is our thanksgiving. I just checked the
gauges- heading to Brave Wave again, perhaps the falls if it isn’t too
high. I want to stay home this weekend, even though I could drive to a
hundred running creeks within 4 hours today.

🙂 EJ