This Is How We Do It…Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 1997 was the first year it became OUR holiday. When you get married, you go to your parents’, in-laws or grandmother’s (0r husband’s grandmother) and then there comes a time when YOU take it on, or some holiday to do your part or to have the baton passed to you. From that Thanksgiving, I remember husband’s grandmother coming, bringing her dressing and gravy, others brought this and that, I remember our nephew taking his nap in the nursery that was set up for our baby to be due in early January. The Puerto Rican neighbors who came from New York were with us and their kids who had become our Sasha and Alex’s friends’. It was fun, everyone brought something, helped clean up and it was the beginning of a long tradition for our family…

Simple & inexpensive flowers from the grocery store in Mason jars, tables set for the adults, teenagers and cranberry relish, picked up from the grocery store deli and added walnuts and orange zest…

Over the years we’ve hosted family, a foreign exchange student, friends who had their kitchens torn apart while they were remodeling, friends who had recently gone through a life altering event and have had friends of friends gather around our the table. There were years that were better than others, years that celebratory conversations took place and years where the tough things in life were either discussed or avoided, but what WAS constant was the prayer, the gathering and love for each around the table…

Amanda and Alex with the twins, now a little over a year old and the Thanksgiving buffet on the island…

Over the weekend, I heard a news story with clips of tv personalities encouraging people to avoid certain family & friends member who may have opposing views on current events. I sometimes have the television on while I get things done around the house, I don’t usually sit and watch, but at this story, I stopped what I was doing and watched this ‘not nice’ story of division and hatred. Really?! On this holiday of Thankfulness for the gifts we have been given and for those around our table and in our families, there are people out there who wish to encourage division in families and within friends and NOT being together? No, no, no. Love your neighbor, love your family, respect one another. There’s plenty to discuss without pushing panic buttons. In my comings and goings, there are very few people I have come across who seem to drink the kool-aid of those I viewed on the television over the weekend. Unfortunately they are out there, one even told me publicly on the waves of Facebook that he was “DONE” with me after my blog post the Friday before the election, which was just a recap of the campaign, gave good and bad points from both candidates, it was basically informative. Don’t be surprised if you come across this. Within hours, this person took down his very unnecessary and inappropriate comment, along with my very nice and appropriate response. Some “friends”/ people in your life, will weed themselves out and that’s not at all a bad idea. This is not the majority of people out there. Don’t get blind-sighted when these unusual individuals attack you out of nowhere, for no real reason. Sometimes these are people you have had a long history with, you have been kind to them and their family and maybe even your family has helped them over a life time. That’s just the way it goes and consider it their loss.

Honey Bread has been on the menu since we hosted Thanksgiving for the first time back in 1997, a recipe from the Martha Cook Building at the University of Michigan and Homemade Rustic Bread from the website here. Dessert brought by Uncle Johnny, always apple and pumpkin pie and Homemade Applesauce from my book.

Enough of that. Thanksgiving is a time to come together and everyone has their own way of making it theirs. Maybe it’s Aunt Katie’s cranberry jello recipe that everyone looks forward to or Grandma Lila stuffing that has no magic ingredient, it’s just the way she has always made it and you know that someday when she is not able to do it or she is no longer with you all, you’ll reminisce about how she brought it in her special Turkey dish. Or you’ll remember who sat where and when Grandpa is no longer with you all sitting at the head of the table and now someone else takes that spot, the baton has been passed. Whether it’s paper plates, crystal and your fine china. Whether it’s all homemade or store bought or a combination of both it doesn’t matter. The most important thing of all is, it’s the people who gather around your table. They are more important that the organic, free range ‘bird’ or the fancy pies from the most delicious bakery or the hot topic de jour. Take a moment while you gather around the table, after you have given thanks and sometimes before you get up to clear your dish and take a look around and the faces and people there…

Coco set up the treasure hunt with the Indian Princesses for candy. It may become a new tradition, we’ll see.

Think about family and friends who have been seated around your table table. Think about how much they have meant to you and have been part of your story. Think about some who you may wish were there for one more Thanksgiving…and now look at those around your table and relish the moment with them…”This is How We Do It”…It’s a Great Day ❤️