November 27, 2014

Day of Thankfulness and Memories

November 27, 2014

Jeff carving the turkey

Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving Day memory?  Is it very emotional or unique or just one of those "perfect" days in your memory bank?  Many of our Thanksgiving Days are similar.  Our menu is usually just about the same: turkey, dressing, gravy, my grandmother's apple salad, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, and a few more traditional dishes.  On Thanksgiving Day in 1974, we were in the process of moving back to Brownsville after moving to Houston when we married.  Back then it was hard to find a gas station or a restaurant open on Thanksgiving Day. 

A couple of Thanksgivings we spent at the beach in the Corpus Christi area.  One was freezing cold with strong winds and before the weekend was over we had Jeff in the Emergency Room in Corpus with an asthma attack.  A few Thanksgivings when we first moved into our current home which was in the late-1970s our home was filled with friends who had no family here.  Our kids loved those times. 

But I must say that probably my most memorable was Thanksgiving Day 1969.  Early Thanksgiving morning, our second child was born - Jeff.  He was a couple of weeks early, but a healthy, beautiful baby boy.  We were living in Houston at the time and our older son - Bob was just a few weeks short of 2 years old.  Jeff suffered a lot with asthma as he grew up.  Those trips to the Emergency Room made him appreciate the people there who could help him get better.  Some children fear hospitals, but not Jeff.  He learned that they could help him.  I recall more than one time after the medical people would have to do blood work or give him a shot or make him uncomfortable doing a procedure to help him get better, he would turn and tell them, "Thank you." 

After his first year of college, he took a semester off and got his Emergency Medical Technician certification and worked on the ambulance crew here in Brownsville.  Many years later, after finishing college, working in Yellowstone, and holding a couple of other positions with the City of Brownsville, he was assistant director of the ambulance department and then filled in as director while a new one was found.  He has a heart for hurting people.  We are so proud of and thankful for our Thanksgiving bundle of blessings.

Today we went to Jeff's home for the Thanksgiving meal.  That was a break from traditions in two or three ways.  One way is that usually I do most of the cooking.  Another is that we don't often get to have Thanksgiving with Jeff's family - they usually spend it at Barb's mom's house and come to our house for Christmas.  And third, it was an evening meal instead of our traditional mid-day meal. 

Ron is still not feeling  very well and he slept very late.  I got up at 8:30 and did a little cleaning.  Then I read for a while.  I made a new recipe for breakfast.  This was a recipe I saw on Facebook a few days ago.  It was OK, but not spectacular.  These little mini treats are made in a muffin tin from crescent rolls and cherry pie filling.

Early in the afternoon I started baking pies for the Thanksgiving meal.  Since it was Jeff's birthday, he selected the dessert.  He requested apple pie in place of a birthday cake.  I made three apple pies and two pumpkin pies.  I must say, I am out of practice.  I had to read and re-read the recipes and still made a couple of mistakes.  When I finished, I was so thankful I was not doing the entire meal!

When we arrived, a new sheet was on the dining table and everyone was to draw or write things they were thankful for or things about Thanksgiving.  Then the sheet became our tablecloth at the dinner.  Memories.

At Jeff's house, his mother-in-law (Barb's mom) did most of the cooking.  Her twin grand babies were with her.  Our oldest granddaughter loves to help with these 9 month old twins.  Yes, they are twins.  On the left is a dark haired, brown eyed, little girl and on the right is a blue eyed blond little boy.  They are good babies and pulling up as they think about trying to walk.  The little boy ignored me and the little girl couldn't take her eyes off me.

 Barbara's aunt and cousin were there also.  We all had a good meal and a good visit.  It was a beautiful day all day and the children had spent much of their time playing outside.  They had been bike riding and had done chalk art on the driveway.  They did some more of both while we were there.

I spent time in the yard watching the kids play, 

watching the fiery sunset, 

the moon, 

the cats resting in the way of the front door.

They probably smelled the turkey!

Some kept the pies safe,

or watched cartoon videos.

At the end of the evening, the two oldest girls came home with us to spend the night. 

One immediately sat at the sewing machine and got to work. 

The other chose to watch Christmas videos.  

Hearing at the dining table was a challenge and often futile.  After desserts I suggested that the ladies go to the couches in the living room.  That helped, but the men's voices carried very well.  It was a wonderful day and we are so glad we could be with family.