My Favorite Holiday Part 2

Fast forward a few years to adulthood and memories from the last 40 years.  Well, maybe not the entire 40 years, but until the girls were married and living in their own houses.

Wednesday at school was one of the three "longest days of the year" because everyone was so excited for the four-day weekend, seeing family, Christmas shopping, and the holiday was on a THURSDAY so that meant a short week and loss of focus on anything academic.  Students were excited; teachers were too!

When the girls were in school, such as elementary and middle school, Wednesday was always the 'prep night' for baking and making whatever I was taking to Grandma and Grandpa's the next day. No homework, something fun for dinner, later bedtimes, and excitement.  I always missed my Grandma Greta.  By that time she was living in Salem in an assisted living facility and she didn't know me whe I called.  She died when Megan was in junior high, and I was devastated for several reasons.  That is the subject for another blog post, but relating to Thanksgiving, I always made scalloped oysters and her cranberry salad, plus when we started to host the dinner, I tried to follow her traditional menu.  I missed her so much, and when we were first married I would always call her and ask for advice on the scalloped oysters.  She never had a recipe, so she would laugh and say "crush just enough crackers to cover the bottom of the dish" and "add salt and pepper but not too much because the crackers have salt already."  No measurements.  Not ever.  

Thanksgiving morning?  Macy's parade, of course.  We would try to time it so we could drive to Grandpa and Grandma's early enough to NOT miss the arrival of Santa at the end of the parade.  Funny thing - one year when Landon spent The Night Before Thanksgiving with us a couple of years ago, he had no interest at all in the parade.  Zero. Zilch. Nada.  I was so disappointed that I couldn't watch it with him, like I did with my girls.

Several years Gary, Karen, and I would take off on Saturday for Indianapolis (usually Greenwood) and do the 'shop 'till you drop' routine!  We would spend the night somewhere, then hit the stores again the next day.  With ball games, teaching, and grading, plus church and school activities, it was easier to do the marathon shopping, which we did!  The girls stayed with Grandpa and Grandma so they could be spoiled just a little bit more than they already were.

Later when the girls were in high school we got into basketball practice for Hilary and other activities which took their time over the weekend.  Still, thougugh, those Wednesday nights were special.  

When Megan went to ISU, I was counting the days until she came home, and the same thing happened when both of them were away at school.  I remember Megan and I making the cover for the window seat one of those times.  I don't think she remembers it, but I do.

This year is going to be a different Thanksgiving, but then the last two were different for me also.  Two years ago I was still recovering from my second knee replacement surgery on the same knee, then the attack of shingles on the right side of my face.  I was so tired, to the point of exhaustion, and I don't even remember much of what went on that day in 2014.  Last year, 2015, I had pneumonia which was diagnosed a few days before the holiday.  Last minute change to The Farm for the family gathering, shifts in the menu responsibilities, and Gary was in charge of the turkey and dressing.  I spent Thanksgiving mostly alone, until Gary brought me a plate of food. Then Clay showed up to visit us.  It was a very different day.

This year will be different too.  There will be two empty spots at the table.  Leo will not be out in the kitchen, checking to see what he can do and looking for a cup of coffee and something to nibble on before the noon meal.  Already my tears have been flowing, and I am sure there are others feeling the same emotions.  I am also positive more tears will flow tomorrow.  They have left a void that just cannot be filled.

Memories.  That's part of Thanksgiving for me.  More to be made.  More to remember.  More to share.