So we move from food to Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday. It is my favorite for lots of reasons: no presents, no wrapping, no decorating, no polyannas, no tree, but YES to eggnog...a no brainer in my mind. Plus, it was always my mother's favorite holiday. No matter what went on in our world she was always happy on Thanksgiving, even if she was doing the cooking for 20. The one thing I always wondered though, is why didn't our turkey come out like the one in the Rockwell painting shown...Ours was always sliced and on a tray by the time we sat down...actually everything was on plates and bowels and baskets...passed and consumed within about 15 minutes, DONE! I always wondered if the people at Norman Rockwell's house were finished in 15 minutes like we were. Or did they sit around and tell what they were thankful for and...my favorite fantasy...compliment everyone on something good they did that year? I read it in a Bobbsey Twins book once and always wanted to emulate it at our house but mostly I just got smiles and pats on the head when I asked...so ,of course, I stopped asking...but I digress...
It seems that Thanksgiving is the great American holiday, only celebrated here to remind us of the Pilgrims and Indians and that fabulous story that, as an elementary school principal, I hear a zillion times in a zillion ways , all delightful, each year...I then get to taste soup and cornbread and pumpkin pie until, well, until the end of the day because I would never want to dissappoint any of my students!
The idea behind this holiday is to stop and think about what we are thankful for...is that what the pilgrims did? They were thankful the Lenape didn't kill them mostly...just like we are sometimes just thankful that no one got drunk, no one brought up the evil cousin's wedding, or no one fought about who gets the leather recliner when pop pop dies!
If you are reading this then you know I am on a great adventure trying to define my life after 60 and after kids...and one of the exercises is, of course, enumerating my blessings...which are numerous. I am eternally grateful for my husband, my children, my friends, my family, and my job. I am grateful that I can sleep in on weekends and I don't have to clean the house anymore. I am grateful that we are able to pay for my youngest son's college tuition with a minimum of help. I am grateful that my brother and his family are back in our fold and we are able to share our love and pride for each others' children. I am grateful for the wonderful house Billy and I bought together and the wonderful family that lives next door...
If we had taken my suggestion and offered something positive about all of the people around my table this is what I would have said:
Billy...you worked hard to find yourself this year and ended up in a wonderful position that was just right for you...
Michaeljohn...you continue to work hard and live the life that you have always wanted...and you did a fantastic job on finding that new car!
Jennifer...you work so hard to be a good wife and help take care of your Mom...good for you
KT...this has been the roughest year of your life and each day you are hanging in and offering intelligence, sensitivity, and love when it is the most difficult.
Tom...you are slowly finding your way back to us...I am grateful for your sense of humor and your love of our family
Michelle...I am so impressed with how hard you work and how aware you are of who you are and how you live your life on your own terms
Jake...I am as proud of you as I ever have been...you finished high school...got into the right college...you are working hard and actually TESTED out of an exam...and you are working hard to continue your basketball...growing up never looked so good!
So there you have it...screw Norman Rockwell...I have found my great American family.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING