I do love Thanksgiving.
I love hosting Thanksgiving, gathering around a meal, the challenge of a massive bird, a holiday that has only one objective…. dinner….so you better get it right.
My Thanksgiving is never perfect, there is always one dish that goes awry and the meal is always late. This year cooking a 21-pound turkey turned out to be an experiment in heat conduction and a quick dissection/ biology class. The kitchen is still covered in a thin film of turkey, and I think I see whipped cream on the ceiling.
No matter. Dinner was served.
Around mid-October I dove into my Pinterest account to see how whimsical, and Thanksgiving-y I can possibly be. The night before Thanksgiving I am wondering what mid-October Heather was thinking.
I did manage to create this little gem
Behold the tree of gratitude!
It’s kind of like the Festivus Pole- although there was no airing of grievances.
But there may have been a Feats of Strength! I’m still not sure who won the ‘Old Guys vs. Kids’ football game.
After the last piece of pie was served and the turkey was tucked away, I had a chance to read through the Tree of Gratitude- I love what my amazing Turkey Day Tribe was grateful for:
- My Cousins
- Friends and Family
- Family, cats and bread: seriously….I cook a 21 pound bird and bread???? Alas, second graders.
- Bread- Again. Bread- next year I’m setting out a pack of Hawaiian rolls and letting you all go at it.
- Bread, not school
- Heather! Aw……I don’t know who I bribed but the check is in the mail.
- True Friends- and my daughter
- Friends, family and health
- Getting together with everyone
- My body’s ability to move
- Being surrounded by love, great food, being in a beautiful home (aw, thanks) and good health
Bread clearly is the winner- but I think my nephews and their cousins hijacked the tree.
During dinner, I stood up to toast, surrounded by family; Hubs, Mom, Dad, Stepmom, Stepdad, Brother, SIL, Besties……
And I had to take a moment and shed a tear.
We are far from perfection or the family you want to emulate….at times people have looked at us with one word…..oof.
But at that table, surrounded by family, love and (of course) bread……the word gratitude is not enough.
Whatever the word may be, may your holiday be filled with it.
Happy Thanksgiving Dear Tribe.
Samsmom 