LessWrong (30+ Karma) A Thanksgiving Memory
Nov 28, 2025
In a heartwarming Thanksgiving memory, a family's home is devastated by a fire caused by a spark. As they face the aftermath, the community rallies around them, offering shelter and essentials from a local store. The narrator recalls friends helping salvage belongings, and the kindness that emerged from a tragic event deepens their gratitude. This touching story culminates in a family tradition of delivering pies to the local fire station, celebrating resilience and human connection.
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House Fire Before Thanksgiving
- The narrator's house burned days before Thanksgiving when turpentine fumes ignited and gutted the interior.
- Neighbors and a store owner immediately offered shelter, supplies, and help hauling charred belongings for months.
Community Generosity In Action
- A downtown department store owner unlocked his closed shop and told the family to take whatever they needed.
- Neighbors hosted the family and even laid newspaper on their elegant carpet to serve soup and bread without worry.
Generosity Counters Cynicism
- The narrator contrasts human cruelty with recurring reminders of human generosity at Thanksgiving.
- This memory prompted an annual tradition of thanking firefighters by bringing them a pie.