Ghost of Thanksgiving Past

Before the Great Caloric Debauchery of 2018 begins, I thought I’d get my blog written so I can just slip into a coma after dinner…

Growing up, Thanksgiving meant going to church in the morning and missing the parade on TV. I guess between the two of them, my grandma and mom had already put the turkey in the oven. The whole house would spell wonderful as the day went on. We would have the full menu plus pie. Football would be on the TV. We would be eating leftovers for days.

As the years went by and I was married, we would still do the same. Marv and I would drive to Chico, attend church, and then go back to my parents place. My grandma was still with us.

After grandma was gone, the venue changed to our house. Same menu, etc etc etc.

After my parents were gone, Marv’s mom was still with us and we would do the same Thanksgiving things. Gradually, though, we stopped having Thanksgiving service at church.

This year there is no one other than the two of us. Neither of us is that fond of turkey. We always have a wonderful Harvest Dinner at church in late October, with both ham and turkey and all the trimmings. That satisfies us completely. So….

Tonight we are having hamburgers and beans. The only bow to tradition is the pie. Two pies, actually. Pecan and pumpkin. We started on the pecan one last night. We’ll hit the pumpkin and maybe another piece of pecan today. Leftover pie is ALWAYS good.

We watched part of the parade this morning and Marv is now watching football. I have to admit I miss the people that used to be with us. Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, my brother Albert, Marv’s Mom, Paul, Sarah. I can always talk to my brother and my kids on the phone or Facetime, but it’s just not the same as being in the same room with them.

It’s still a day of Thanks, though. As every day should be. People, memories, home…and PIE.

Can’t forget the pie…