Do We Still Give Thanks?
by Angela R. |
November 18, 2010 11:12 AM |
5 comments
Angela R.
Location:
Albany, OR
Favorite Flavor:
Very hard to choose but at the moment I can't get away from Chocolate Raspberry!
How do you have fun (hobbies, sports, vacations, etc.)?
Crafting, sewing, gardening, hiking, throwing the ball around, fishing, reading, jigsaw puzzles, baking, seeing American Landmarks.
If you could travel back in time, what era would you live in?
I enjoy so many things from the 40's and 50's I think this would be the era I would choose.
Three things you cannot live without…
My bicycle, my morning coffee, and reading material.
What holiday do you most look forward to, and why?
I enjoy Christmas as I always return to childhood at some moments every year. I also enjoy making holiday crafts, baking special desserts, and spending quality time with loved ones and friends. People are simply much more considerate and giving around this time of year.
There is a time (somewhere between the first day of fall and the first day of winter), that often seems overlooked. There are no treats, no giving of gifts, no decorating required… essentially no fanfare whatsoever. Instead, there are everyday people making extensive trips to the local grocers, pouring through recipes for the perfect side dish, and fretting over family relationships that, let’s face it, are less-than-ideal.
This is Thanksgiving, the traditional holiday commemorating the friendship and unity of two groups of people from entirely different walks of life over a bounty of freshly harvested food and drink. As history shows, there were no concerns as to whether dirty laundry would be aired, whether the meal was up to anyone’s standards, or who was the most fortuitous over the past year. The original holiday was special, as for the first time, people put aside their differences, and shared a feast without the three H’s- headaches, hang-ups, and heartburn.
As someone with eight siblings, the possibility of having an entire day, any day, without the three H’s was slim at best. However when it came to Thanksgiving, we always managed to avoid any drama. My mom, a wonderful person with a tremendous heart, would always kick off Thanksgiving with much ado. Yes, we celebrated Halloween with the usual trick-or-treat, décor, apple-bobbing, and hay riding parties, and yes we also did the usual Christmas gift giving, decorating, and cookie baking. However Thanksgiving has always had a special place in my heart.
Our Thanksgiving would begin weeks before the last Thursday in November, as my mom felt that anything pertaining to harvesting was a part of this holiday. We did not live on a farm or anything, however every weekend morning before Thanksgiving we would all prepare for a trip to the apple orchard or the farmers market. My mom would have coffee prepared along with her eclectic set of cups used specifically for this time of year. The table was laden with nut bread, cinnamon rolls, bran muffins, and other Fall-type morning treats. There we would sit, sisters, sister-in-laws, some brothers, and of course mom, continuing our contemplation of what was to be baked or made for Thanksgiving. I remember that although we always specified a time to leave, we always ran late as we enjoyed, what my mom called, “coffee moments”.
On Thanksgiving Day, we would gather at my mom’s house once again, watch football, and stuff ourselves until we couldn’t breathe normally. After the last dish had been put away, my mom would break out those eclectic mugs and we would have our last coffee moment of the season. During this time I would reflect on the previous month’s weekend adventures, each with a humorous story of their own, and express thankfulness for the memories. Above all, I am thankful for our coffee moments, as they are some of the best moments of my life.
As my own family grew, we created our own traditions and memories that we are all thankful for. The memories of these times in my life are untouched. If I close my eyes and try, I can still smell the coffee and nut bread, hear the laughter, and feel the warmth in my heart that the Thanksgiving “coffee moments” gave me. For this I will always give thanks. This year, when sprinting through the period between Halloween and Christmas with a grocery list in hand, take time to reflect on your past Thanksgivings, you might find a memory or two that you have that you can be thankful for as well. If nothing else, it will bring a smile and a moment of peace to your day.