Save a Place for Uncle Larry Thanksgiving 2026 ldp

TITLE: DING-A-LING, JESSICA UNCLE LARRY'S THANKSGIVING CALL DJ DR LOVE — 007 FM [OPENING — NO MUSIC] [A CELLPHONE RINGS CLEARLY: DING-A-LING… DING-A-LING…] [Let It Ring Twice Before Anyone Speaks.] [Jessica — Spoken] Hello? [Uncle Larry — Deep, Warm Spoken Voice] Jessica? This your Uncle Larry. How you doing, girl? [Jessica] I'm fine, Uncle Larry. How you doing? [Uncle Larry] I'm all right. Just calling to see… Dinner at your house this year, as usual? [Rhodes Enters. Cello Rises. Deep Bass Settles In.] [Verse 1 — Warm Male Baritone] It's November fourth, I'm calling early, We usually wait till two days out. Everybody asking what's the plan now, Everybody knows they'll eat somehow. You're the oldest second-generation daughter, One of so few women in our line. Five generations woven in this family, And you keep finding room for everybody's time. Got your uncles, got your daddy, Grandma, little nieces running through. Girl, you make it look so easy… But I know there's work behind what you do. [Pre-Chorus — Climbing Toward Tenor] Every year there's fewer voices, Some good memories, some that ache. But I still want to hear our people Saying grace before we take a plate. [Chorus — Soaring Tenor, Rich Harmonies] Save a place for Uncle Larry, Let me see the family one more time. We don't know what next year's bringing, But today we've got this bloodline. Give God thanks for those before us, For the children coming after, too. Jessica, you keep that table open… [High Sustained Phrase] And I'm so proud— [Deep Baritone] Of everything you do. [Verse 2 — Intimate, Playful Middle Register] Mama's in her eighties, still got kitchen business, Cornbread, potato salad, collard greens. That's a whole day's work before the turkey, Ain't nobody making them like she. I tell her, "Mama, even at a hundred, We'll be asking what you brought to eat." Then I see her standing there a little longer… Tell myself I'd better find her a seat. And your husband hardly touches liquor, But that boy keeps a mighty fine selection. I come through looking for my nephew, Then his bottles get a little close inspection. [Low Spoken Aside] Better than some bars I've been in. I ain't gonna lie. [Chorus — Full Orchestra] Save a place for Uncle Larry, Let me hear the stories start again. Football talking from the next room, Somebody asking how we've been. Give God thanks for those before us, For the children coming after, too. Jessica, you keep that table open… [Airy Falsetto] And I'm so proud— [Low Return] Of everything you do. [16-Bar Male Rap — Conversational, Clear] Truth is, niece, I thought about sitting this one out, Lot of things been weighing on me I don't talk about. Money going quicker, people trying to make it stretch, Hard to turn up freely with a bill around your neck. I ain't chasing every sale just because the sign is bright, Keeping something for the winter helps me settle down at night. Christmas might be quiet, doesn't mean the love got small, I can keep some money back and still pick up the call. But I can't let my worries keep me hiding from my own, Even if I only stay an hour before I'm gone. Let me see your daddy, let me hear my mama laugh, Let the little ones ask questions 'bout the people in the past. We can downsize dinner, we don't have to downsize care, Bring a little something, take a little burden off her there. I can skip another purchase, I don't need another thing, But I'd hate to miss the voices that another year could bring. [Four-Bar Turntable Transition] [Original Cuts: "Family" / "Save a place"] [Soft Ringtone Fragment. Strings Return.] [Bridge — Exposed Low Voice, Rising] Some names will make the table quiet, Some stories bring us back to life. Let the children hear us tell them, Let them know whose love survived. And I pray when they're the grown folks, With their own doors opening wide, They remember more than what we served… [Soaring Tenor] They remember— [Band Stops; Deep Spoken] We made the time. [Final Chorus — Powerful, Warm, Expansive] Save a place for Uncle Larry, I'ma show my face and say my grace. We can keep the gathering simple, Love don't need an expensive plate. Thank you for another Thanksgiving, Father's Day and all you do. For remembering the men who love you, And the family standing here with you. [High Ad-Lib] Five generations— [Descending Baritone] Let the love keep coming through. [Outro — Music Softens Into Phone Conversation] [Uncle Larry — Spoken] Anyway, niece… I love you, girl. Thank you ahead of time. But tell us what to bring. You shouldn't have to do it all. And tell your husband… Don't hide the good bottle. [Soft Laugh.] Call your uncle when y'all settle the plans. [Jessica — Softly] Love you, Uncle Larry. [Uncle Larry] Love you, too. [Call Ends. Cello Holds. Warm Final Chord.]