Ebetty knows life is short and can be turned upside down on a dime at any time. When she sees life as unfair and unjust, she tends to lose her sense of gratitude for what she does have. In trying to write something appropriate for Thanksgiving, she remembered a scene from a play. A pretty famous play, written by one of America's best playwrights, Pulitzer prize winner Thorton Wilder. A simple, yet devastating idyllic tale of community and family life in a small American town. Our Town.
Our Town, Act III: Emily has just been buried, but wants to go back and live a day in her life once more. She is counseled against it, but she decides to go back and live her 12th birthday. While back in time, she tries to get her mother to just look at her, but her mother is busy with her chores. Finally Emily cannot stand it and begs to go back to her grave.
EMILY, in a loud voice to the STAGE MANAGER: "I can't. I can't go on. It goes so fast. We don't have time to look at one another." She breaks down sobbing. The lights dim on the left half of the stage. MRS. WEBB disappears.
"I didn't realize. So all that was going on and we never noticed. Take me back--up the hill--to my grave. But first: Wait! One more look.
"Good-by, Good-by world. Good-by Grover's Corners...Mama and Papa. Good-by to clocks ticking...and Mama's sunflowers. And food and coffee. And new ironed dresses and hot baths...and sleeping and waking up. Oh, earth, you're too wonderful for anybody to realize you." She looks toward the STAGE MANAGER and asks abruptly, through her tears: "Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?--every, every minute?"
STAGE MANAGER: "No." Pause. "The saints and poets, maybe--they do some."
In this time of economic scarcity and insecurity, and living by the skin of our teeth (another Wilder play), Ebetty hopes to remember Emily's words and give thanks for sunflowers, food, coffee, the town she lives in, the people in it, family, friends, hot baths, new ironed dresses and the ticking clock. May we all see, hear, smell, taste, touch, and feel in our hearts how truly lucky we are to be alive and have this wonderful earth. May we realize it, and ourselves by our attention and gratitude.
Happy Thanksgiving and God bless!
EBetty