The November 29 edition of Warrior Connection takes us back to separate time via the poetry and writings my own cousin: Bonnie.  Bonnie Rokke Tinnes is a teacher of English and Russian and a registered nurse with BS Degrees from Bemidji State University and the University of North Dakota.  She is author of the Growing up Margaret Series, Grandma’s Three Winks, Snow Presents and Other Poems, and Dancing Barefoot in the Wind, another collection of her poetry.  Now retired, she lives with her husband Gilmen in the Bemidji Minnesota area.  Bonnie's works are available on AMAZON.COMA Thanksgiving GiftBonnie Fay Tinnes1344 WordsJuvenile: grandma, family, giving, ThanksgivingSometimes I wondered how Fancy Grandma found her friends. She had a strangemixture of individuals that she called friend, and it did not matter howrich or poor, how popular or unpopular, or how old or young one was, or whatone had done or not done. It seemed like she knew everyone, and everyoneknew her. Grandma respected everyone and was especially a champion of theless fortunate, the needy, and the underdog. She always told me, "Pumpkin,don't judge anyone. You never know who God has sent to help you."Thanksgiving gave Fancy Grandma another chance to be generous. Every Fridaybefore the week of Thanksgiving, she met with other members of the communityto put together baskets for people in the community who could not afford tobuy the makings for a Thanksgiving dinner. The baskets included a largefrozen turkey, fresh potatoes, canned corn, canned cranberry sauce, stuffingmix, home-grown squash that Grandma donated, and a can of pumpkin pie mix.Before they met they knew exactly who would receive the gift, and when theywere done each of them delivered baskets until they were gone.Fancy Grandma always saved one Thanksgiving basket that she delivered thenext day, Saturday. This year she invited me to go with her when shedelivered it to the Jennewein family.Eva and Charles Jennewein lived in a log cabin in the woods, and there wasonly a trail to get there. Fancy Grandma worried that it would snow makingit difficult for us to bet back to the main road. When we woke up earlySaturday morning, we turned on the radio for the weather forecast, whichdetermined how long we stayed and if we stayed over night. The forecast wasfor a cold but sunny day, and we planned to spend the night with theJennewein family.At first when Fancy Grandma invited me to go with her to visit theJenneweins, I hesitated. Everyone knew they were poor. People laughed attheir large family saying they had too many children they could not supportthem. Classmates did not want to be with them in school, and as the childrenbecame older, they moved away from home often quitting school. Otherslaughed at the way they dressed and the way they smelled of wood smoke fromthe way they heated their house. I didn't want to go there, but I didn'twant to hurt Grandma's feelings.Briget Jennewein was the youngest child in the family and the only one stillliving at home. She was in my class at school, but I did not know herbecause she always stayed by herself in school. She always looked lonely.This fall I had not seen her at all and wondered what happened to her. Iwondered if she was at home today.The day was cold and windy so we dressed in warm clothes. There was a lightpowdering of snow on the frozen ground and only a few dried up leaves on thetrees that looked stripped against the sky with their verdant attire gone.Only the evergreens showed signs of life. Occasionally we saw a deerwondering through the woods looking for something to eat.Our car was full of groceries and gifts for the Jenneweins. Fancy Grandmathawed the turkey the night before, and it was ready for Eva Jennewein'soven. She also made a pumpkin pie and whipped cream topping to go with it.She packed the car full of groceries: milk, butter, apples, oranges,carrots, celery, squash, tomatoes, corn, and anything else she thought theywould need including a fresh b