Saturday, November 26, 2011

Ho Ho Holidays

Tonight I am in recovery mode.

Yesterday was a very busy, very long day.  Most of it was spent cooking ham, turkey, potatoes, corn, beans, dressing, sweet potatoes, rolls, pies, deviled eggs, and I forget what else for our family dinner last night. 

Everyone started arriving around 6 p.m., and half an hour later we all gathered to say the blessing before dinner.  Each one brought more food and drink, so by the time we started eating I think I actually heard the table groan under the weight of it all.

Some of the family had already had one feast that day and were celebrating again.  Others of us were eating our first meal of the day.  At least that's what we told ourselves, giving us the excuse to put just a little more on our plates.

The over-forty crowd gathered at one table, while the "kids" sat at another.  It was strange to watch the dynamic of the conversations change from years past.  Where we, the "old" people, used to be the ones to carry the bulk of the table talk, it's now switched to the younger crowd.

And we couldn't be happier.

Long after all the elders left, they continued talking and laughing and having fun.  Pa and I gave up and went to bed, and they still carried on.

It was wonderful.

When we got our creaky old bones up this morning, we found they'd cleaned up before they left.  Bless their little pointed heads.  They almost make hosting Thanksgiving worthwhile all by themselves.

And for that we are thankful.

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