"THANKSGIVING 2003"
The month of November becomes a busy month. The start of the holidays,shopping,cooking, expected and unexpected guests. Invitations arriving in the mail for Thanksgiving dinner or a weekend visit. Christmas party or dinner invitations. The month most of us get out the Christmas card list and address them. Planning the baking for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Oh yes then the seasonal decorations. As I said a busy month.
I don’t remember it being so busy as a child ! Then I wasn’t the adult with the work. I just enjoyed running through the remainder of the leaves and playing outside on warm afternoons,if there were any.
I know I got to go shopping a lot, and had my name changed to “get out of the kitchen before you get hurt!”. Now that’s a moniker ! What was everyone in such a hurry about.? Oh well. Back to my fun and games. The cellar seemed to be the safest place, until I heard “Get out of the cellar before you get hurt!” Ok where do I go not to get hurt?
Next thing I know the cousin is taking me down town to look around. They always had a trick up their sleeves!
At least that big turkey wouldn’t be at the store anymore. (so I thought!) We ate him a few years ago. I was taking a bag over to Nina’s and to my horror “IT” was back!
Well I was older now so I walked closer to the curb than the fence of the back yard. The turkey couldn’t get me. Wonder if this one would show up on our table again?
As years go by we think of holidays past when we were young or growing up,being picked up for the Thanksgiving Day High School football game,the hugh Mums our dates brought us. I was privalaged to go to a Virginia Military Instuite football game in Richmond and was escorted by my cousin who was a member of the team and I was shocked to see the gorgeous mum he presented to me and how handsome he looked in his VMI uniform. Oh how I cheered him on along with my father and uncle.! It was the most memorable Thanksgiving of my youth.
This Thanksgiving will be different for me. The family and close friends will gather here this year at our home. It will be a happy but sad day since Rich will not be present. I know it will be bittersweet when we sit down but Rich will be with us. A place at the table will be set for him along with a mum, but the plate will be upside down. A tradition we do in our family on the first Thanksgiving that a loved one isn’t with us.
This year I will be thankful for all the support from family and friends,and that I have such people in my life. I will be thankful for the strength I learned from the other females of our family. Enjoy today , life can change in a split second!
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