Refuge Farms (www.refugefarms.org)

Another blog! For those of you who know me personally, you know this blog has been very hard for me to do. I don't know whether it was because I have so much to say or it was the fact that I have nothing to say. If indeed I have nothing to say, then I have had many sleepless nights, for nothing, over this blog.

Since this is the time of the year we are reminded that Thanksgiving is right around the corner AND the fact food plays such an important part of "our" Southeastern Louisiana culture, I am going to do this blog like how I would make a good gumbo. For those of you who are unfamiliar with gumbo - it's a seafood (like) stew made with okra and a little bit of this and a little bit of that thrown into a pot and simmered. This blog will be a little bit of this and a little bit of that with the goal being, as in a good gumbo, it causes people to breathe in, taste, savor, and smile.

Thanksgiving, to me, has always been one of those holidays that encompass what families are all about. It is a delicate balance between happiness and chaos that, for the most part, ends up in people being content and happy to be around those they love and care for. Although I should leave the historical references to our beloved professor, it seems we owe the Plymouth settlers (who came to be called Pilgrims) a moment of gratitude for establishing a holiday immediately after their first harvest in 1621...a sort of autumnal feast to give thanks for what had been bestowed upon them. Isn't it interesting how the intensity in the family dynamics on this day parallels with our own day to day family experiences? Often we may try and give the illusion that everything is great but in reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Take time during this holiday season to be true to yourself and your family. It is a time for life!

November is National Philanthropic Month. Philanthropy happens to be a very big word to describe something really very simple. It's people giving what they have to benefit others; you could say it's benevolence in its purest form. Although usually associated with huge charitable donations, philanthropy can take on many forms. Look at the generosity displayed by Culver's® and Applebee's® - they are invaluable partners in helping to maintain our missions. But what about the volunteers? That is philanthropy!!! A group of people come together and give of themselves, unselfishly, for a cause that they "may" never benefit from. Back breaking, labor intensive, sweat pouring volunteers eager to do whatever it takes to make sure a group of animals are nurtured and cared for. In exchange for their Herculean efforts they get a few minutes of a soulful connection that, in some magical way, makes it all worth it. Simple, pure, and meaningful...isn't that what life should be! Sadly, that's not always the case in the world we live in.

I guess that's why I like animals so much. We should learn from them but we never take the time to digest everything they are showing us. Life lessons, which more often than not, will catch up with us at some juncture in our life. Regrets, that if we had only listened, would have never surfaced to cause us pain. There are no pretenses with animals, no games to play, no rules to follow - they just love you unconditionally. They are not critical, judgmental, or controlling. They just want to coexist with you and be happy. I have to wonder, given how mankind has evolved (or devolved, depending on your perspective), will this ever be a possibility?

Well...I think it's time for me to put all these ingredients into the pot and let them start to simmer. This will probably be my "last" blog for this year and want to extend my heartfelt wishes and thanks to everyone for their support throughout the year. I hope you and your families have a safe and joyous holiday season. As we give thanks let us remember...we only have each other.

Vincent