There is time enough this morning. We aren't going to be at the eldest's until around 2 pm. As long as everything is done by 1 pm, all is good. I am going to make a grain-free bread and side for us, the Kentucky Derby Pie will be grain and sugar free, the cranberry sauce will be sugar-free and I will make two different whipped creams (one for us and one for everyone else. It's the little things ya know.
I'm taking my break while the pies bake. Hubs built me a beautiful fire, haven't had one all week, so my toes are nice and toasty as I sit here listening to the wind chimes and look out at the dreariness of this beautiful day.
Thanksgiving is so different than it used to be when I was a kid and when my kids were young. The frantic cooking, helping my folks and then later coaxing my babies to help me. Those are distant memories, tinged with a bit of sadness and a sense of loss. So much water under the bridge, so many things are different.
Dad has been gone for so long, but I feel his presence as I am working in the kitchen. I hear different things he would say. I can picture him telling me I'm weird for the fact that I like things he would never consider eating. The times of over the river and through the woods to grandmothers house we go are long gone. Our kids and grandkids are scattered all over the place. I'm not mad, I miss them, but I know they are living their lives.
Oddly, I am thankful for these times. I am thankful that while our babies will not all gather around the table with us, they are happy and healthy. They are doing the things. Having been raised military brats I definitely did not set the standard for holidays at home with the extended family. In fact my children were grown and on their own before we did the first one. I'm not altogether sure the boy has ever been to one. Often my daughter will make the statement that it is just a day and that any day can be picked to be a celebration.
At first my traditional upbringing balked at that like a two year old throwing a full fledged tantrum. Yet ever so slowly, it sunk in. My heart started to wrap around the idea. As it started sinking in deeper it started to align quite well with my stance on commercialism and the materialistic way things had turned.
Now, it doesn't matter the day. It matters the love. We will celebrate in separate parts of the country, but our love for one another will not waiver. The boy will be so far away, and I definitely couldn't make him a turkey, so I had smoked turkey (his favorite) delivered to his house. Will he have a mom cooked meal, nope, will he feel loved and thought about, yep.
We will gather with the girls, maybe not their complete families, the dragon is with her Dad and the boys... well we often have to wait and see what they will do. As Hubs always says, we will gather and break bread. Tomorrow I will make us a small Thanksgiving, so Hubs can have his leftovers. One must plan ahead for these things.
I have to admit, that I was beyond happy to see all the signs saying businesses would be closed until Friday morning, I was more excited to see the ones that will not even open early tomorrow. The shopping frenzy is definitely not my gig at all! One time, ever, I participated (and I use that term very loosely) in Black Friday. As soon as I saw the lines, I agreed with Hubs we went for breakfast and went home and enjoyed the day. There is absolutely nothing I need that will ever cause me to do that again.
It makes me sad that business open on holidays, and before anyone loses their minds, I understand not everyone celebrates Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc... but if our federal government can close and banks can close, then why can't everything close that is non-essential? If you don't celebrate and own your own business and want to be open, go for it. But the large businesses that open because they don't want to upset anyone annoy me. Everyone can use a day of rest, a day to be thankful for, a day to simply stay home. I get the need for gas stations, yet there are many that do not even have attendants any longer. I understand emergency needs, but really people don't plan ahead any longer. I grew up where stores were closed on holidays and weekends after 12 or 2 pm depending on the size of the towns... why can't we?
Well that's a soap box for another day. I am just super thankful to see the businesses that are putting their employees well being ahead of profits. Oddly, the ones that make those rules that have the humble employee working are usually off for a nice long weekend when these holidays roll around.
I will celebrate and be thankful for those that have time to spend with their families, those will be the businesses that I will support. People matter. And we all need to unplug.
It's time for me to get back to cooking and puttering around the house. Wishing my loved ones a wonderful day and responding to text messages. I am absolutely blessed.
Good one! 381+
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