For over twenty years my Thanksgiving Day consisted of watching the Macy’s Day Parade, followed by baking some desserts and pineapple stuffing to take to dinner at my in- law’s home. We would all gather into their tiny place, eat, have some laughs and relax a little before heading home. Thanksgiving has long been my favorite holiday. It isn’t about gifts like Christmas. It is just family gathering, eating good, homemade food and talking with each other.
In all the years of our Thanksgiving tradition, my favorite memory still is from my early years as part of my husband’s family. There was always so many of us and the one time their neighbor and close friend invited us to have the dinner across the road at his place which had a huge deck that was enclosed with windows all around. As we sat there that cold November day warmed by the food, each other’s company and of course actual heat, it started to snow. The snow fell so softly. It was absolutely such a beautiful moment to be sitting there laughing, eating and having this beautiful view of nature.
This is our third Thanksgiving without my mother in-law and this Thanksgiving, much like the last two, feels so far off from the last one we had with my mother-in-law.
I am grateful that I have a family to go home to and share a meal with at the end of my work day today. I am grateful I got to spend 25 years knowing my mother in-law. I am grateful for all the Thanksgiving Days she gave us together.
And I am grateful that one of those days was so utterly magical and filled me with such contentment.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.