A Week to Thanksgiving

 


One week from today is Thanksgiving and it's going to be a strange one for me.  It's going to be an uncomfortable one I suspect.

Thanksgiving 2019 was the last "regular" family gathering that I can remember.  My parents had moved to the shore permanently, but drove up for a midday meal.  Family friend/honorary Aunt Julie had not yet moved out of state.  So we were all together.  Who would have imagined that it would have been for the last time?

Thanksgiving 2020 we didn't see any family. It was just the three of us.  Although if I recall correctly, I did deliver some baked goods to Julie.  The day after we drove out to my in-laws which started a new(ish) tradition:  Deli Day.  (I need a better name for this...Thanksdeli?  Cold Cut Friday?)  We didn't do anything with my parents for Thanksgiving, although we had gone down in late October and I also went down on my own in early November and late December.  2020 was a STRANGE year.  (I think we can all agree to that.)

By last Thanksgiving (2021) Julie had moved and the three of us went to my parents for brunch.  It was the last time I saw my mother really enjoy eating.  All of us, excluding my father, LOVE bagels, cream cheese and lox, so that is what we brought down.  It is one of the last times that I can remember my mother being really happy and (semi) relaxed.  I made a small semi-traditional meal for the three of us that night.  (We have a Gardein Holiday Roast not because I am vegan, but because I cannot eat poultry and this is the closest I can get.)  My son had attempted to replicate Julie's much loved cranberry Jell-O mold (and done so quite well).  All in all it was a pretty nice Thanksgiving with my in-laws coming out to our house on Friday for our second annual Thanks-Friday (I really need a better name for this...a little help here?)

We did NOT go to my parents for Christmas last year (thank you Covid) and while we did a pseudo-Easter meal in 2022, by that time my mom was not doing well and barely touched her food.  So Thanksgiving 2019 was the last REAL Thanksgiving meal we had as a family with Thanksgiving 2021 being the last REAL family (food based) gathering we had where everyone was (relatively) happy and healthy.

Which brings me to next week. My in-laws will come out on Friday.  We will go down to see my father on Saturday.  (But not to have a meal; although one of us will go up to the attic and change out the furnace filter.)  On the actual day of Thanksgiving, it will just be the three of us.  

I plan to make a meal, although I'm not sure when we will eat.  (Afternoon?  Evening?)  I'm hoping this will be a low key day where we can watch the parade, play a little scrabble (that's kind of become a tradition between my husband and myself...he always wins) and perhaps just be together.  (Full disclosure:  there will be wine for me!)  It will be a slightly strange day, but hopefully it will be, if not a happy one, a day of calm and peace because that's something we could all use.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We Have Taken America Back

Image
Back to a time when all men (and women) are not created equal.  Where women's healthcare is determined by men's laws and not by medical professionals. Where education tells only the "winning" side of the story and truth does not matter.  Where banning and burning books is a social event.  Where people who are "different" than those in power can be mocked, shunned and hurt with no real consequences. Where lies are acceptable and integrity is  just a word on a page We have moved into a time where rage is the rage.  Where hate is not just normal, but accepted and even cheered. Where leaders can ask to have their "enemies" killed and no one will bat an eye.  Where it's "funny" to see someone struggle.  Where felony is applauded. Where compassion is not shown and caring for others is looked down upon. We have taken America back to a time of pain and suffering for many.  Back to when the "haves" can have and the have nots don'...
Read more

It's Not About Starbucks (or is it)?

Image
  About a block and a half from my home in a major intersection.  At the southeast corner (which is nearest to me), is an empty building.  Back in 1995 it was a Bank of NY (I remember this because they didn't shovel/de-ice their parking lot well and my husband fell and broke his ankle one Monday morning.  I recall this clearly because we were not yet married and it was the first day of a new job for me.  I had gotten on the bus to work and he was catching a later one; only he never got there.  Instead he ended up laying on the ground until an employee came to open up the bank.  Then he had them call an ambulance AND my mother who took control of the situation until I arrived home that night blissfully unaware of what had happened that day.)  It eventually became a Chase Bank; the second one in my small little town.  It eventually closed.  I'm not sure when but it's been empty for quite a long time.  (I do know that it was open in 20...
Read more

As Is

Image
  Today I want to discuss what I think it is a relatively simple concept, but may be difficult for some, even an attorney who might have once, over a decade ago won a  prestigious award  for young lawyers .  That term is "AS IS." As you may know, I volunteer in a thrift shop.  Everything we sell, from all the donations we receive, is "as is."  The items are not brand new.  They are not perfect.  That doesn't mean they aren't any good or worth something. They are sold "as is."  Buyers should go in knowing that. (After all you are shopping in a thrift shop!)  In some cases, particularly when we are offering higher end products, we will actually write on the price tag, "as is." Such is the case of two designer purses that I purchased from there this summer.  (I'm a purse-aholic!  Don't look in my closet.)  They were reasonably priced (especially when you consider the name brand), but each had an "as is" clearly marked o...
Read more