Relax, it's just Life!

I do remember when Thanksgiving was more than just a pigfest. Hopefully some families still keep the tradition as it was when I was a child.

I recall. Mama used to let me help cook. We would get up very early in the morning because the turkey was usually a large one. It was big enough to feed the clan and still have leftovers for turkey hash and biscuits the next day, and turkey sandwiches and cranberries the next.

The night before we would have a crackling fire in the fireplace and sit at the kitchen table rolling out the pie dough (made from scratch of course). Mama would bring all the pumpkin ingredients to the table and watch as I carefully measured ingredients and mixed the pie filling. She taught me early to love cooking. I remember her saying “It is a wonderful feeling to know that you have whipped up something that leaves the house smelling like cinnamon and pumpkin; to know that your family will be nourished as they sit TOGETHER to eat.” It was a wonderful feeling.

We would cook the pies the night before so that they would chill in the refrigerator. Anyway, we knew the
turkey would take up the entire oven. In the morning just mama and I awoke early to get things started.
We let everyone else sleep as late as they liked, and of course when they awoke we had another great
fire crackling and hot chocolate on the stove.

I remember chopping lots of onions and celery and breaking a couple of loaves of bread to put in the dressing. Mama taught me how to make a great sage dressing that I still get raves about today. It was
one of those times I was fortunate enough to say I remember those times with my family – happy times.

We would all hug as the family arrived and chatter like a group of magpies. When we sat down for dinner
we clasp hands tightly all around the table to thank God for all our blessings.

I am still thankful for all my blessings. No matter what troubles there are in this country – we still have to
right to say what we think and voice our opinions. We have so many “options” as far as foods, autos, places to live, “toys” and so much more. (Sometimes I feel we have too much to appreciate it all. We
forget how blessed we are). Even such things as paper towels, toilet paper, telephones, computers, electricity, medical facilites in emergencies, television, firewood, alternate means of transportation, are
often taken for granted….and the list goes on and on.

So today I want to say with every fiber of my being, no matter what hard times we all must endure, I
am grateful for all my blessings – large ones and small. Grateful for love, for life, for family and and
friends. I hope whomever is reading this can relate to my feelings and if you cannot then I want you to
know someone is praying for you today- me!

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