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PAGE 16, NOVEMBER 29, 2010, THE ISLANDER ALK Finding thanks in strange places As upset as I was about Alabama’s one point loss to Auburn on Friday, my weekend turned around with Georgia's last minute win over in-state rival Georgia Tech on Saturday and the Atlanta Falcons' major Sunday after noon last minute win over the mighty Green Bay Packers. But, Pam said, “Not another football column this week.” She said I had to write about Thanks giving. What a bully. Right? Growing up in the Permar house, Thanksgiving was always, always a family affair. And since the Permar family was small, it was always just the five of us, until my mother's mother came to live with us in the late 1960s and made it six. My other three grandparents were gone before I was bom. My mother only had one brother, Uncle Bill, but since he lived in San Rafael, California just across the bay from San Francisco, we only saw him a few times on rare trips east. He and my aunt never joined us for Thanksgiving dinners. Likewise, my father only had one sis ter from whom, sadly, he was estranged. She didn't come to his funeral, so it's not surprising we never got together with them at holidays. After my father died in July of 1987, my mother started inviting a few people over for Thanksgiving dinner to round out the conversation and make things more festive. It was usually people who didn't have family around to celebrate with or my friends who just wanted to eat twice. At some point we started going up to Atlanta and Watkinsville to spend holi days with Pam and Charles and Andy, Debbie, Scott and Steven. After Pam and Charles moved back here in 1996, their Dover Bluff Rd. home became Thanksgiving central and the tradition of inviting people to dinner who couldn't get home to their families or vice versa continued. Over the years Permar Thanksgiv ings became get togethers for all sorts of families and friends. This Thanksgiving Pam and I were invited to a friend's house who hosted about 15 to 20 people. Some I knew, some I didn't, but it was a wonderful time filled with delicious food and good conversation.... except for one minor political disagreement between me and a friend. Although we did reel it in before it came to blows or frightened the children. It was the first time that I can remember not having Thanksgiving dinner at my parents' or sister's house, so I do want to offer a heartfelt thank you to our hostess for providing a won derful evening. As thankful as I am for my small family, all my wonderful friends and Matthew J. Permar Publisher The Islander EDITORIAL the many good things in my fife, includ ing many years of memorable Thanks givings, I have to admit this year I've got something extra for which to be thankful. Facebook®. Yeah, Facebook®, the so called "social network." A friend and business expert con vinced me that being on Facebook® had potential business benefits, so I signed up, albeit it rather reluctantly. Facebook has proved somewhat use ful in connection to my job but not a life changer, although I know one reporter who uses it rather regularly to gather input and ideas for articles and stories. But for the most part it seems to be good only for idle chit chat. It's dif ficult at times for me to not respond to posts with sarcastic comments. I've also learned not to get involved in political discussions... people tend to quickly become insulting if you challenge them, regardless of your logic. As far as the 'friend request' thing on Facebook®, I haven't been terribly impressed with that either. A very good friend with whom I lifeguarded and lived back in the mid- 1970s contacted me through Facebook® and then disappeared a short time later. I don't think he 'unfriended' me specifically because remembering him from years ago, I think he just decided Facebook® wasn't for him. Another time an old girlfriend sent me a 'friend request,' which I accepted though I thought it odd to hear from her after all these years, her being mar ried and with a family and all. Anyway, I never heard back from her. But then, about a month ago I got a 'friend request' from Ellen Weaver. Back in the 1970s Ellen and I were best friends. I mean carpool-to-Bmns- wick-Junior-College-everyday-friends, hangout-all-the-time-friends, talk- about-everything, including our crum my love lives, friends; we were buddies and close to inseparable. But sometime in the late 70's she went to the University of Georgia and then moved to Atlanta and I moved to Florida and we lost track of each other. That is until she tracked me down on Facebook®. After I accepted her 'friend request,' she surprised me by following up with a message and things clicked... just like the old days. She lives in Cincinnati now, where she grew up, and in a couple of weeks she's coming to the island for a visit to see me and all her old island friends. And it's all directly because of Face- book®, as strange as that is. So this year I'm also very thankful to be rekindling an old friendship. □ For the person who has everything. The gift that means everything. This holiday, give a wonderful, heartfelt and practical gift - an Air Evac Lifeteam member ship. In a life-or-limb-threatening medical emer gency, your loved one’s successful recovery can depend on how much time it takes to reach definitive care. Ai Air Evac Lifeteam air ambulance can cut that time in half. Aid saving those precious minutes can mean the differ ence. 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