Spin Cycle: Being Thankful

Every year at the holidays my Grandma would sit at the head of the table and gaze fondly out over her very full plate of dinner to the faces of her loved ones spread out before her on either side of the table.

She'd be cajoled into making the first toast and she always said the same thing. "I'm just so happy to have my family gathered around me."

At this, her four grown children would start to laugh. "Oh Mother, here you go again."

They would wave their hands dismissively, the broad smiles on their faces giving away how happy they really were to hear Grandma's predictably mushy words.

These last years, my parents generally fly to Arizona on Thanksgiving to my sister's. With no family nearby, I, like many others, spend the holiday with friends.

They are my neighbors. My Vineyard family. They watch our pets when we go on vacation. They bring us food when we're sick. Our seven children think of one another as cousins.

We have Thanksgiving at their house and then Christmas at our's. We've been doing this for years.

On Thursday they'll make the turkey. The Ex brings his mashed potatoes. I arrive laden in desserts. Pumpkin pie, apple crisp with vanilla ice cream, holiday cookies. Sometimes there are miscellaneous friends or family members in attendance. Every year is a little different but the core remains the same.

It will be the first time since August that all three of my children are gathered together at one table. I will look out over our bountiful spread to these faces I so love and, as always, I'll think of my Grandma.

I didn't get it all those years ago. I thought she was being overly sentimental. But I get it now.

Oh yeah, I'm right there with you Grandma.

 

For more Spins, go visit Sprite's Keeper. Jen always gives us something to be thankful for, no?

 

 

Comments

[Mama Badger]

Grandma's are rarely wrong in these matters, I found. I love the picture.

It's funny, so many of the people we blog with are enjoying their older children coming home again, and PB and I are enjoying sharing our new children for the first time. It's great to be able to hang out with such a variety of people!

Thanks for the spin, as usual.

[Lynn]

I'd invite myself over, if I could, and bring chocolate nut pie and Nanaimo bars. We still have no idea what we're doing for Thanksgiving. Family isn't around and everyone else has plans, so it's looking to be just us. I don't even know that it's worth making a big meal.

Of course, it means I don't have to do major housework and planning and decorating and cooking all that jazz, which I guess is something I can be thankful for! :o) But I like the gathering of friends and family and chatting and laughing together over a beautiful meal served at a nicely laid table.

Lovely post. I could just imagine everyone there, with grandma smiling benevolently at the head of the table. Maybe she still is.

[Sprite's Keeper]

I'm getting a bit weepy!
I can't wait for Thursday, not for the food, but the family and conversation and the wish to extend those hours since we don't get to see everyone as much as we want.
Your grandma was right. When the family is complete, no matter the relation, it just feels so good.
You're linked!

[Dreamfarmgirl]

I love Thanksgiving for this very reason. It's not about presents or Santa or even religion. It's about being thankful for the wonderful people in your life. Age has a way of making that point even clearer.

Love the picture! Happy Thanksgiving.

[Jan]

I agree with Mama Badger - Grandmas are rarely wrong in these matters. It's going to be so nice having my kids all together for the first time in over a year - I wish my stepdaughters could be here, too. But we've gotten to the point where it will probably be a long time before the hectic schedules of our adult children will allow that.

So I'll be grateful for the family I do have with me, and grateful to have lovely stepdaughters that I'm able to miss.

[Pseudo]

Love the vintage photo. Your Thanksgiving tradition sounds lovely.

[Menopausal New Mom]

That is so great, when will be ever learn that Grandma knows best! Sounds like you have a wonderful celebration planned! Enjoy!

[Heather]

I know what you mean. My mom is going to be so happy this year and will probably giva a speech (Lord, help us). It will be the first Thanksgiving (in a long, long time) that all five of her kids will be in the same room together, along with spouses and grandkids.

[Jane]

What a beautiful post, per usual. I love it when friends become family. I think tradition is important - and whether with friends, family or your Ex (I SO admire you!) the fact that you are all celebrating together and creating your own traditions is fabulous. Have a very, very happy Thanksgiving.

[Nancy McDonnell]

Love it.
Funny how we didn't 'get it' when we were younger, but do now. And then tell our own children the same things that they told us way back when. I get the same blank look when I tell my daughter these stories that I'm sure I gave my parents when they told me.

Some circles really have no end.
:-)

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Erin@TheLocalsLoveIt]

Man I miss my grandma. But she never got to sit down and eat. She's never relaxed but rather ran around trying so hard to make everyone else comfortable.

Love the photo. Have a great day.

[Jen]

My grandmother used to say the same thing, and then my father said it and we dismissed it as... I'm not really sure what we thought he meant. Now he is gone, as is grandma, and the core has fallen apart. It is just me and my two kids this Thanksgiving which is nice on the one hand and sad on the other. I have half a mind not to go to any great lengths because it is just us but then I think it is just us and we should be thankful for that even if we do it 364 other days of the year.

[LPC]

I think we are all thankful for family. We just might been different types of groupings of people when we say the word. I have a deep hunger for family, more than I can say.

[Erin]

Oh wow - what a lovely photo. I love your description of your old and new traditions.

I am getting excited to drive down your way Thursday morning. :-)

[Brenda]

Love the photo--which one are you!?

[Twenty Four At Heart]

It's great, isn't it?

[kathryn]

Smart, sweet, wise Grandma....

See? You got it...that's what's important.

She's smiling...you know she is!

Hope you have (had) a wonderful day!