HAPPY THANKSGIVING

"For moving forward is rarely accomplished without considerable grief and sadness. And while our sorrow may be profound... ...the clouds will clear... ...and the sun will shine on us again. And in that warm, bright light... ...we will find ourselves facing a glorious future. A future of exciting challenges... ...and infinite possibility... ...in which the horizon will stretch out before us... ...rimmed in the heavenly glow... ...of the sunrise of our tomorrow. "

Today we face our first major holiday without my mother and my uncle. Yesterday as I was making some of the things that can be made in advance, I missed bantering back and forth with her. But last night my oldest daughter arrived and today we are putting together the rest of the foods that have become traditonal for us.

Tradition states we have to watch the parade while working. Then Christmas carols get played for the first time this season. I am trying to remember everything. The china has been washed and the silver polished. My mother had two dishes which traditionally only came out during Thanksgiving and I found both of them on Ebay! My Uncle was the gravy master so I bought jars of gravy just in case I screw it up. My kids know I don't make good gravy and will be upset if it comes to store bought but will then agree that one can not have turkey and mashed potatoes without gravy!

So while we no longer have mom or uncle, our memories and traditions will carry us through. And while we are not facing the future we wanted, we are facing new and exciting things. With the good food, our family and friends, we still have much to be thankful for this year.

I wish everyone something to be thankful for and a Happy Thanksgiving.