I REMEMBER…
...As a child
waking up to wonderful smells of sautéed onion and celery, sage and poultry
seasoning and turkey already roasting in the oven. Mom would get up in “the wee
hours of the morning” to get Thanksgiving dinner started.…Family gatherings around the table, eating off the “good dishes,” expressing thanks to God for His many blessings.
… Cleaning up and doing dishes together afterwards (no dishwasher) everyone pitching in to help.
… Walks after dinner to “make room for dessert.”
… Playing football outside in the yard with whoever would play.
…Cold turkey sandwiches from leftovers. Yum!
… The time we went to our Aunt’s house in Philadelphia for the meal, after which my teenage brother told our Aunt that was the first time he was ever full! We all cracked up, but Mom acted mortified!
…Watching the Parade on TV, looking for the next huge balloon to go by.
…Starting our own family and carrying on the traditions. Going back home and sitting around Mom’s table with Mom and Dad, my adult brothers and their families, and whoever else happened to be there that year.
… The years we were in Africa and unable to be “home” for the family gatherings. Mom and Dad would put the Cassette Tape Player on the table while they ate so everyone could talk to us and we could be part of the day. Mostly we heard the clanking of silverware, laughter and “Pass the stuffing,” interspersed every so often with Mom saying, “Say something to Ruth and Pete!” Some weeks later we would get the cassette in the mail, listen to it, tape over it and send it back.
…Trying to find a turkey to keep the tradition going, sometimes settling on a chicken we raised ourselves.
…Teaching our
own children about The First Thanksgiving while living in a foreign country,
even though there it was just another day with school and work as usual.
… Gathering
with other American Expats, also away from their families, to celebrate
together.
… Passing
around notecards so we could write some reasons we are thankful for each other.
…“Football”
outside in the yard but now it was Soccer.
THINGS CHANGE OVER TIME.
Children marry, move away, and start their own family traditions. We have to share them now just like our parents had to share us. This makes the times we are together just that much more special. Now there’s texting or Skype instead of cassette tapes, and no need to wait weeks for the tape to come in the mail so we can hear their voices.
BUT SOME THINGS DON'T CHANGE.
There’s still turkey and stuffing, plenty to eat, cleaning up afterward and maybe a walk to “make room for dessert.”
AND ALWAYS,
no matter where we are
or who we’re with,
there are reasons to give thanks!
Happy Thanksgiving!
“Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.” 1
Chronicles 29:13 (NIV)
