 hanksgiving has always been a family time for me. From the
earliest memory, we would have this big get-together at either my
Grandma Berry's or Aunt Pat's or sometimes at our place.
 e never had a huge family, just my Mom, Dad, Myself, my Aunt Pat, Uncle Frank, my cousin Frankie, Grandma Berry, 'Paka' Jack, 'Nana' and 'Pa', and later, my Husband, David, and my Daughter, Jennifer.
 ne Thanksgiving in particular that I remember was probably when I was around 11 or 12, and we had Thanksgiving at my Aunt and Uncle's place up in Santa Rosa. This was about 50 miles north of where my family and I lived in San Francisco. They had a small farm which I had spent many happy summers. It was 1/3 of an acre, which back then, to me was HUGE, but now, I see it wasn't really very large at all. They had pear trees there, and I remember picking pears to sell to Del Monte in the summers.
But that is another story. With just the 10 of us, my Aunt had gone out and bought this huge 26 lb. turkey! Needless to say everyone carted home lots of tasty leftovers. *smirk* I also
remember having a tape recorder that year, and I would walk from the kitchen to the den to the dining room, then outside taping all of my relatives. :)
 ater in my life, when I was about 20 and engaged to my first husband,David, I remember one Thanksgiving that took place at my Grandma Berry's. My cousin Frankie is 5 years older than me, and I remember sitting in the living room with my fiance on the couch, and Frankie came in to call us to dinner. I remember him saying, "Come on kids, time to eat." And I remember my fiance saying, "Who are you calling a kid?" I grinned, as Frankie didn't know that David was 2 years older than he was. *snicker*
 think the strangest Thanksgiving I've ever spent was back in 1988 when I was working for a Travel Agency, and I booked a trip for Jennifer and I to Florida to visit Disney World on her school's Thanksgiving break. First, let me say my first husband, David was a merchant marine, and he was not going to be able to be home for the holiday, so just Jennifer and I went. We had a wonderful time together, and I still have the framed silhouette that I had the shopkeeper make of us, hanging in my bedroom. The weird part was not having my family around.
e reserved Thanksgiving Dinner at a large hotel near where we were staying. I remember the room was huge and seated many people. It had a large waterfall on one wall. It really was a lovely setting. It was a buffet where you served yourself, which was fine, but I missed having the family around, even though I did have my daughter with me, I missed the rest of the family. The food, while good, was quite expensive, and I feel our family cooking is better, myself. Of course, I'm prolly just spoiled. *grin*
ur family has gotten a lot smaller with the years, however... *sigh* Many of my relatives have passed away, and now it's only my Mom,
my Grandma Berry, and my husband, Darrell and I. But, we still have a lovely dinner. Last Thanksgiving was at my Grandma Berry's house. She is over 80 years old, and still makes a wonderful meal! I hope that at her age I will be able to say the same about myself.
hope that you and your families enjoy a healthful, safe Thanksgiving this year. Just never forget to be thankful for the loved ones you have in your life. Life is much too short.
-- Lady Shel
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