I miss you Lenny

This seems to me to be one of the most beautiful autumns in a long time. God has sure presented us with a gorgeous palate of colors. This time of year conjures up so many feelings for people. With Halloween fast approaching there is no lack of ghouls and goblins out decorating homes. Halloween is second only to Christmas for decorating.

Next will come Veterans day, don't forget to honor your veterans. Whether it is a grandpa, uncle, brother or your neighbors son or daughter. Send a card. They gave up part of their lives so that we can be free. So the least we can do is send them a card on the day that is set aside to remember these folks.

After that is Thanksgiving. This is the holiday that we eat until we pass out. I'll bet if you surveyed 100 random people and ask them if they give thanks before they eat on that day, less than half would say yes. We really do have a lot to be thankful for. This year lots of folks are out of a job, so remember your food pantries when you are shopping. Give a little something back.

This time of year never goes by without me remembering my cousin Lenny. Lenny was maybe 18 months older than me. God saw fit make Lenny special. I wish I had a scanner so that I could show you a picture of him. He had a heart as big as anyone I have ever met. He could also be a thorn in your side. But he was Lenny and I did love him. A big round face and thick glasses. He could do an imitation of Curly from the Three Stooges that would crack you up. He loved children and helping however he could at church.

When we were about eleven years old we were in MYF, Methodist Youth Fellowship. Our little church did not have a baptismal font. We decide that we would raise money to purchase one for the church.

This was 1961 and farmers did not have the kind of equipment they have today. When they picked corn they would miss some at the end of rows because of turning. My uncle Art, Lenny's dad was a farmer and agreed to let us pick up any corn that was left in the fields for our project. Lenny and I spent hours walking up and down rows of picked corn picking up any cobs left on the ground with even a speck of corn on them. If I remember it was the last of October or the first part of November so it was cold on those Saturdays and nights after school, but we got corn. It wasn't just Lenny and me, it was other kids too from our group. I don't remember if Lenny's sisters helped us, they probably did. We finally raised enough money to purchase the font.

Lenny passed away a few years ago. It was kind of sudden and took us all by surprise. His headstone is right by my mom's so I think of him whenever I go to the cemetery. But most of all I think of him every year when the leaves turn and the farmers are out picking corn. Now I cherish those hours we spent together. I miss you Lenny you were a good soul.