That picture? My Mother. Wedding day. Natch. (one of hers, not part of my usage today) The head dress is a bit much for a cotillion or whatever they did before I was born.
Most of us lucky, we are still really lucky, inhabitants of this country have some memories, good and bad of Thanksgiving. It's actually a pretty cool holiday. Celebrate abundance. Bitch about family. Make new family. Get to see someone we know do something stupid. Lord knows that was me when I was hard at it. I think for the most part, since 1981 or so, I have worked every Thanksgiving. Except one or 2 years, I also do the family dinner. I am blessed to have people that want to join our table, who will travel to be in my company. It is a damn fine feast if I say so myself.
Getting back to that photo of my beautiful Mother on her wedding day. Every Thanksgiving, she is with me and everyone I have the good fortune to touch in some way or another. You see not only did she share a love of a fine table, I also have her "secret" seasoning for the turkey. I get to think of her her when I make it, when I season the birds (only 54 this year), as I roast and baste them, when I think of everyone who will be at table with family and friends enjoying one of my turkeys and when I sit down, finally, to my own dinner with family and friends.
So Mom has been gone for quite some time, but this, to me, is such a powerful bit of remembrance. Immortality. Wow!
Yeah, a bit much, but these are my thoughts after all.
I wish you a bit of peace and may your gratitude be greater than your resentments. Always.
By the way anyone reading this has an open invite to our table. Really.
