Thanksgiving has always been Daddy’s favorite holiday of the year by far (and believe you me, he knows he’s in the minority on this one but c’est la vie!). It’s such a wonderful day to reflect upon the many blessings that are manifest in our lives on a daily basis but we rarely give a moment’s thought about.
Daddy certainly has lots to be thankful for with the most important being a beautiful wife and wonderful son. Even though it’s been six months now, it seems like yesterday we were heralding your entry into the world and wishing for a strong and healthy start to your young life.
As the days became months and the months are progressing toward your first year and beyond, it’s not really hard to remember that feeling of being thankful that you’ve come into our lives and really turned them upside down. It’s sometimes hard to remember this when we’ve not had the sleep that we might wish to have or that moment’s peace and you’ve just got to have that bottle and/or food yesterday but never doubt how thankful we are for these little things even if we seem a little tired and frustrated. It’s amazing what your smile and your chuckle can do to us and no matter how rotten a day we’ve had, we’re certainly thankful to come home to someone who loves us unconditionally and isn’t afraid to show it.
You are our immortality and the hope for our future and for that, we are most thankful that you’re healthy and generally happy.
And then there is the glorious gluttony of the day on the day all diets are suspended by mutual consent, tryptophan naps are the rule and not the exception, and families come together. certainly had that in spades this year at Gramps’ table.
Anyone who knows him knows he doesn’t do anything by halves. No, that would be too easy…anyone can do it! But it takes something special to have three turkeys, a spiral cut ham, all the trimmings…and a touch of Florida with tons of shrimp for a bottomless shrimp cocktail! Where else would you get a shrimp cocktail for Thanksgiving, eh? How that dining room table withstood the load of food on top of it, I’ll never know.
What I do know is that the four of us were joined by Aunt Nadine and Grandma Carol (dressed for the part as a Pilgrim…once on the stage, always on the stage!) and the biggest pile of food I’ve ever seen in a Thanksgiving feast. How we managed to move away from the table afterward, I’ll never know. But move away we ultimately did for Mexican Train dominoes and a good time was had by all.
That brings us to round two when the St. Clair family from Orlando (who had adopted Gramps as their grandfather) arrived at the house. Thankfully they had already had their feast so we didn’t have the temptation toward more gluttony and in the process side-stepped another family tradition of squabbling over who takes what leftovers. Daddy has seen treaty negotiations that were less vehement and certainly simpler but that wasn’t a problem this time! After some good games of dominoes with their daughters (Hannah and Haddy) and all of the leftovers heading to Orlando, it was time for all of us to just relax.
And let me tell you, we were most thankful for that! 🙂
