Then...the church began putting on a full, traditional Thanksgiving meal for those in the area who were in need - so I have so many great memories of going down to the church early in the morning with my parents and brother and pitching in, cooking turkeys, mashing potatoes, all on a pretty large scale - then serving the people, seeing their grateful faces, finally sitting down with my family and the other volunteers to chow down ourselves.
Then came our own family Thanksgivings, first just Sue and I.....purchasing and cooking our own turkey and deciding what sides would become our own annual customs. The stuffing was always based upon Susan's grandmother's bread sausage stuffing....the vegetables varied, but rotated around corn, beans, and carrots...always mashed potatoes and gravy (which was Sue's job). Dessert rotated from Pumpkin to Pecan Pie and back again. Our Thanksgivings post-marriage are all a blur - as Sara, then Sara and Caitlin, then just one or none to join us, as their lives and travels allowed.
This year is a delight, since it was the four of us enjoying a wonderful meal that is never fancy but always satisfying. It is a beautiful day - a chill in the air, sky intense blue - perfect for an afternoon, after dinner walk with the dogs.
There is so much to be thankful for....of course my wife, daughters, parents and brother, my friends, tomato plant customers...our dogs and cats...life in general, with its daily surprises. As my daughter Caitlin often says, "it's all good"....it's not perfect (and no life can ever be) - there are the occasional tiffs, conflicts, challenges, dips - but nothing that doesn't (or can't) pass with time.
Yep - it's all good!