It’s Thanksgiving Delivery Day for Equinox …

Today’s the day.  It’s a day I’ve looked forward to all year.

For on this day, I will gladly deliver turkey dinners to someone in the Capital District.

I am an Equinox Thanksgiving Day delivery driver.

I’ve done this for years, and it’s been fun every time.  The car is completely cleaned out in anticipation of packing it full with turkey dinners and fixings.  Christmas music plays on my SiriusXM radio for the entire trip.

I think back on all the deliveries I’ve made over the years.  And all the cities I’ve visited.  And all the things I’ve done while I’ve delivered.

That time in Rensselaer where I had an extra meal left over (one recipient received a surprise visit from his family and wouldn’t need a meal), and found a returning veteran who didn’t know about the Equinox tradition.

Or that time in Corinth when, in bitter bone-chilling cold, I saw a pitbull dog that was left in the cab of a truck.  In the cold.  He was freezing.  I called Animal Control and waited until they arrived to rescue the dog and take him to a shelter.

Or that time in Schoharie when I delivered the turkey dinners – a little girl opened the door, looked at me, looked at the dinners, and shouted to her mommy and daddy that Santa Claus just delivered dinner!

Or that time in Fonda when I drove past a goat farm, then delivered the dinners, then drove home – only to discover that the goats had broken through a hole in the property fence and were on a jailbreak.  Ha.

But the thing is … I’m not looking for excitement or adventure.  I’m simply a deliveryman today.  My goal is to bring you your delicious Thanksgiving dinner so that you can enjoy the holiday season, whether by yourself or with your family.

I’m not here to judge on whether you deserve a meal or not.  You asked for a meal.  That’s all that matters.  That’s all that’s important.

This is part of who we are.  This is our opportunity to be a better part of that world.  To give when you have no more to give.  To share when you don’t have enough for yourself.  To lift others when you need to be lifted.

This is important.  And for every person who volunteers for Equinox on this holiday season – whether it involves cooking the turkeys or making the stuffing or delivering the dinners or cleaning up afterward – it’s all part of the procedure and it’s all part of the love.

So yeah, today is important to me.  I always want it to be.  Because if a person can help others, than that’s the most important thing that person can do.

Off for the drive.  See you soon.