Thanksgiving

Joshua Tree in the Mojave Desert

Thanksgiving is more than just a celebration of the harvest; it is a celebration of the bonds we forge in the kitchen and around the table. My first memories of Thanksgiving are from my grandparent’s house and I’m pretty sure when I was little, we also had Christmas dinner at their home. When I was ten years old my parents bought their “big house” and we split the holiday dinners, Thanksgiving at the grandparents, Christmas at ours. Eventually, just at our house. The dinners were always big deals…polishing the silver, shining the crystal, baking for days ahead, decorating, and just working to get things done…almost always with smiles and laughter. Not always…but mostly. Celebrating together, working together, laughing together.

But then, of course, we weren’t together anymore. Geography. Health. Finances. Duty. And much more split us up. The last family Thanksgiving my parents, my sister, and I had was in 1969. But then, Diane and I started a family and the feasting and fellowship tradition began again 30 years ago. Every year we’d have a dozen friends and family over with all the chaos, and cooking, and fun as what I’d remembered when I was growing up.

But now, of course, we aren’t together anymore. And I think that’s the way it’s supposed to be.

In the image above, if you take “the long view” you see not only the desert but also the distant mountains and the whole world sort of drops into place. That’s the way I am about my family and our celebrations, the kids are moving on, creating their own traditions and memories and, thankfully, Diane are a part of them. My “long view” is that each time some or all of us together no matter the occasion, it’s a day of Thanksgiving and I am thankful. Thankful for all those who came before me, thankful for those who taught me, and thankful for those who sat with me as I learn about what’s coming next.