With Thanksgiving just a few days away, Dr Ring wanted to share a personal Thanksgiving story —
Here's one that’s been told (and laughed about) in my family for years — about how a pumpkin pie ended up saving me when I was 10.
My family and I had driven from San Diego to Denver in my grandparents’ big travel van to spend Thanksgiving with relatives. After a great holiday week, we began the long drive back home. Somewhere in New Mexico, we stopped at a rest area. I hopped out to use the restroom and toss out some trash.
When I walked back out, I saw my grandfather backing the van out of the parking space. I figured he was just repositioning so I could get back in. But then the van kept moving… and then it drove away.
I ran. I waved my arms. I yelled. But the van continued through the parking lot, onto the freeway on-ramp, and disappeared down the highway. I chased it as far as I could before collapsing in the road, crying, wearing only a T-shirt and shorts in the cold New Mexico snow.
A kind woman came running toward me with a blanket, wrapped it around my shoulders, and said, “I’m sure they didn’t mean to do it!” She brought me into her family’s RV, where her husband and kids stared at me like I’d arrived from another planet. They were incredibly kind and promised to wait with me until my family returned.
Meanwhile… my family was happily cruising down the highway with no idea anything was wrong.
A while later, my grandfather said he was hungry and asked for some leftover Thanksgiving pumpkin pie. My mom started handing out slices to everyone, then called out to ask if I wanted some. No answer. She asked again. Nothing. She looked up into the sleeper cab and saw… it was empty.
That’s when she screamed, “We forgot Jeff!”
Panic set in. But because they were on a long stretch of highway, they had to drive almost 20 minutes before they could find a place to turn around. Nearly an hour after being left behind, I finally saw that big brown van coming back toward us. I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to see it.
And the reason they discovered I was missing? Pumpkin pie.
All these years later, the story has become a family classic — full of laughs, teasing, and the running joke to “make sure we don’t forget Jeff!”
As Thanksgiving approaches, this memory always reminds me how grateful I am for kindness, for family, and for the little moments (and desserts!) that bring us back together.
Wishing you and your family a warm, safe, and very happy Thanksgiving.
Have a great afternoon!
Joy, Jen, Kim, Kathy, Gabi, Coloradas, Maxfield, Dr Shriner and Dr Ring