This is the first year, in many, many years, I have had the blessing to be with my family (in Washington vs in San Diego) for Thanksgiving. My memories of such, were filled with scenes of lots of us cooking together, laughing, playing games and telling stories...something I was looking forward to again. Some look upon it as chaotic and noisy, but for me, it's pure joy. Time spent with special people I love.
Another thing I love about Thanksgiving is the food! Both Jack and I love all the various parts of what is traditionally Thanksgiving Dinner. Yum! There's never enough room in my stomach to hold all that I want to savor...but there's always the "leftovers" that are just as good, if not better, the next day. ;-) We got to have two of them, as the family here is so large (and some had to work on Thanksgiving) that we celebrated on Thursday AND on Saturday! Lucky us!
This year's gatherings were the same and yet different. The same fun loving, noisy group - but older. All my nieces and nephews are now grown with families of their own. The teasing and playfulness gave way to a more sedate social style filled with different stories and laughter. The house now filled with their children teasing and playing together. My sisters and I now leaving a lot of the "work" to the younger ones and their style of putting all of it together.
As I walked around, watching and listening (aka as taking pictures) to everyone catching up on one another, I still heard the love. Diverse backgrounds and interests, but with that common thread of love and caring.
Being surrounded by all of this, I was fed. I have had the joy of spending independent time with each of them these past few weeks and have loved every minute of it. I've met great-nieces and nephews, some for the first time, seeing their beautiful family resemblances and hearing about their interests.
And we too have the "characters", but isn't that half the fun? I remember the old days when there was always someone who drank to much or got in a disagreement, but today it seems more innocent with piercings, colored hair, tattoos and the explanations of why odd jobs vs going back to school. All taken in stride it seemed or maybe we've all just mellowed.
This year brings new memories to cherish and remember. New, but with the same joy.
It truly was a very Happy Thanksgiving.
...kicking back in Tacoma, Marie
If you wish to view the rest of the photos from this trip, you can at my Flickr account at:http://www.flickr.com/photos/74905158@N04/
No comments:
Post a Comment