The holiday season is upon us. Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Eid ul-Adha, and the Chinese New Year are right around the corner so many of us will be celebrating with family. As a young man I remember those days when we would gather as family, visiting, playing and graze most of the day. This year I had the opportunity to spend an early Thanksgiving with my parents and both my sisters. We laughed, ate, caught up on our lives, ate, visited the Desert Museum and ate!

Unfortunately some will not spend the holiday season with family. I worked on Thanksgiving Day as did many others. We will find some working in the military, medical, police, travel, food industries, etc., that will require them to be away from family or maybe having to adjust their schedules around their work.

And of course we have the homeless or orphaned who have no family to celebrate with. While walking around my hotel, after consuming two pieces of pecan pie and spending an exorbitant amount for the dinner, I found these two patio chairs and the flower pot that symbolized to me the emptiness some people will feel during many days of the year. I hope we are able to enjoy and share time with family as well as those who have no immediate family.

Did I mention we ate?