The Boomers and Zoomers were at the table early on Friday. There were some stories to clear up that had languished over the flurry of alarming news about the shootings here in downtown DC, and the apprehension about danger to the parades on Thanksgiving Day. Black Friday earned its name with the news that one of the soldiers, Sarah Beckstrom, had died of two .357 magnum gunshot wounds fired at close range. The other soldier attacked is Specialist Andrew Wolfe, who is reported to still be in critical condition. We pray for his recovery while we mourn the savage murder of his partner.

That led to a long discussion about the nature of the GWOT, the Global War on something that seems increasingly to have a lot in common with other socio-religious conflicts in progress to varying degrees for the last millennium and a half.

The crowd at Socotra House tends to be from a nautical tradition, but there are some Army and Marine shipmates who remind us what it is like to carry a long rifle while on patrol. That accounted for a certain unease before the community luncheon at the Trillium, but Splash decided to intervene on the somber mood by turning on the Macy’s parade with the hope that it could be carried off without further incident. We gave thanks for what came next.

We want to thank the Macy’s folks. They started at 8:30AM up there and there were reported to be millions in the crowd along the path of balloons and mirth. We did not catch up until preparations for the feast began to get serious. The perfection of the floats and precision of the marching people swept the clouds of apprehension away. Of the multitude of things that could have gone wrong was staggering. Perhaps the determined marchers on their towering stilts were more amazing than the gigantic balloons. Men and women alike, they towered above the crowd and filled our whole room with delight at their determination.

The festive feast was arrayed along the length of the Conference table as the marching and floating went on. The turkey was moist, laden with savory gravy. The dressing was fluffy, the taters creamy and vibrant, and the pecan and pumpkin pies ringing TAHE’s blinking digital lights were lovingly attacked.

The Boomers insisted on waiting for the arrival of Santa’s Sled as the parade turned south along the Avenue of the Americas. Vic leaned forward to the screen since he used to work at the 1221 tower, so he would periodically give a whoop when he could see it. When Santa eventually arrived at Herald Square, home of the Macy’s flagship store, we were all ready to get up and get shopping.

Or an get an early start to Holiday Happy Hour. Rocket and Melissa were already started, but assured us that like the Macy’s Stilt Walkers, they are determined not to stumble on the way to some actual in-person shopping today!

Copyright 2025 Vic Socotra
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