Celebration

Last year on Thanksgiving Day, I posted a lengthy piece about Thanksgiving, explaining what I’d learned about the genesis and evolution of the holiday. I found the history of the holiday and its traditions quite interesting. And I mentioned that, at the time I wrote it, our plans were not to have a traditional meal of turkey and dressing but, instead, we planned an evening meal of tacos. In fact, I think we ended up going to a Chinese restaurant where we indulged in a decadent meal that included pot stickers filled with an incredible broth.

Today, though, we return to the traditions of the day, not at our house, but at the house of friends who invited my wife and her sister and me to join them for a family meal. My wife made broccoli and rice casserole. My sister-in-law is making pie. I picked the wine we’ll take when head over this afternoon, carrying our goodies. Our hosts will supply the turkey and dressing and untold number of side dishes. There’s no doubt it will be a feast.

I’m looking forward to a moderately sized gathering (there will be nine of us). With rare exception, our holiday meals in recent years have included just the two of us.  Occasionally, we’ll have a sibling and/or my niece and her husband visit for the day, but usually, it’s just us.  I miss the conversations that tend to emerge from larger groups, though I always enjoy being with my family, however many or few of us there are, when it’s possible

This Thanksgiving will be the first one we celebrate in our newly adopted hometown. I expect it to be superb.

I hope all my family and friends and all the acquaintances who have become blog and Facebook friends have a similarly superb day today.