By VIVIAN CONRAD | Senior Center Director

For the first time in a long while, we had all five of our kids and their families together for Thanksgiving last week. With our older daughter’s family leaving for the mission field in another few months, we’re not likely to enjoy such a gathering again for several more years.

Nineteen is a lot of people for little children to keep straight. It took the preschoolers a day or two to sort out all the family connections. At one point I heard 4-year-old Alexis ask her younger cousin, “Now what’s your name?”

“This is Riley,” I intervened. “She’s your cousin.”

Alexis considered the information for a moment and then said, “No, I want her to be my sister. You’re my sister, Riley.”

“Okay,” agreed the 3 year old. “Come on, sister.” So saying, they joined hands and ran off to play.

Nine grandchildren in the family allows every kid someone to play with, except for Finley Marie, who is only a month old and more interested in sleeping than playing. Hopefully, all the little ones are learning that they have been given a special gift. Family means having a place to belong and people who love and appreciate you.

In that sense, I guess you could say that our Senior Center is kind of like a family. We appreciate every person who walks through our door. Regardless of background or personal history, everyone belongs and is welcome.

With artists, musicians, craftsmen, scholars, homemakers, veterans, nurses, florists and professions of every sort among us, the center boasts a blend of experience and skills that is unique to this community. Our participants contribute their own particular abilities and cooperate together in ways that benefit everyone here. I appreciate the feeling of family – shared values and common goals – that undergirds an atmosphere of respect and friendship here at the Senior Center.

Some of our people will be contributing their own particular talents in coming weeks. Rev. Barry Holmes will reprise his role as the most authentic Santa Claus in Mineral Wells at our annual Breakfast with Santa fundraiser on Saturday, Dec. 8. He’ll be on hand to pose for pictures with kids of all ages while we’re serving a pancake and sausage breakfast from 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. that morning.

Next Thursday evening, Dec. 6, we will once again join with Palo Pinto Nursing & Rehab and Lakewell House in hosting another Progressive Dinner. Lakewell House will provide appetizers at 4 p.m. Dinner will be served at the Senior Center at 5 p.m., and the party will finish at Palo Pinto Nursing & Rehab with dessert at 6 p.m. To sign up for this free dinner party, call the Senior Center at (940) 325-6470.

We still need people to sign up to decorate tables for our Around the World Holiday Food Fair on Tuesday, Dec. 11. Participants may choose the country they want to represent with a decorating theme. We also need some international holiday dishes, so if you have an old family recipe from another country we’d love for you to share it with us.

Don’t forget to register for the Life Line Screening scheduled at the center on Dec. 18. This is an opportunity for relatively low-cost medical tests that include stroke/carotid artery screening, heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation) and abdominal aortic aneurysm screening, screening for peripheral arterial disease, and an osteoporosis risk assessment. Participants must pre-register. Registration information is available at the Senior Center.

Now is a great time to join our Senior Center family. This is where every senior adult can find a place to belong.