It was last night that I realized that this will be the first Thanksgiving since 1978 that I haven’t talked to Tom and/or Nancy Hartmann while listening to Alice’s Restaurant.
Tom & Nancy, 1972.
During my late teens and early twenties and when not away at college, I probably spent more time at their house than I did at my parent’s. I learned many skills from Tom & Nancy and we had a special bond at several levels.
Tom died after a short illness in 1995 (on their 25th Wedding anniversary) and Nancy died this past February. Their three children, two that I held as babies, are grown with their own families. How time flies.
Tom and Nancy introduced me to the tradition of listening to Arlo Guthrie’s Alice’s Restuarant each Thanksgiving. I haven’t missed once and I still have the vinyl LP that Tom gave me.
Each year since I started blogging in 2010, I have mentioned Tom, Nancy and the song each Thanksgiving.
This year is no different, but it is.
I have never had a relationship with anyone like I did with Tom and I still miss him terribly. The least I can do is spend eighteen and a half minutes, one day a year in their honor.
Here is to Tom and Nancy, may their memories be eternal and I hope that wherever they are, they are having a Thanksgiving dinner that can’t be beat.
Mitigating Chaos 
Loved Alice’s Restaurant. What a lovely way to remember and celebrate the lives of your dear friends.
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What a lovely tribute to two who gave you so much and who are celebrating in another room this year. Together, which is rather nice. *you can get anything you want at Alice’s restaurant*
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I had my fill at Alice’s Restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed it thank you Ray, and thank you Tom and Nancy. That’s a fine bunch of cameras they have there! Happy Thanksgiving.
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Tom was a photographer and had quite a collection. Their son is named Ansel. I wonder who he was named after?
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Loved this photo of Tom and Nancy! What a wonderful tradition in memory of your dear friends.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, RAY AND FAMILY! 🙂
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Same to you both.
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Beautiful post Ray. Happy Thanksgiving
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Thank you and same to you 🦃
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Every year since moving to the St. Louis area in 1999, my husband and I make the 4 1/2 hour drive to the Chicago suburbs on Thanksgiving morning to spend the holiday with my family. I know the exact mile marker when I can finally get WXRT on the radio – the radio station of my youth and young adulthood. You would love it – they are still a local independent station with real DJs who pick the songs. Every year, at 11:00, shortly after we get within range, they play Alice’s Restaurant. It’s become as much of a tradition as turkey and stuffing. 🙂
BTW, you can listen to WXRT online. You should check it out.
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I will thank you
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The variety is incredible. I’m listening now – they played ZZ Top, then The Shins, now John Lee Hooker.
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I brought it up, just at the end of Led Zepp’s The Ocean…. a good start. I looked back through the playlists and there are a lot of bands I’m not familiar with. It is however, a very cool format and I bookmarked it. Thanks for the info.
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