Today is the fourth Thursday of November. This means two things: Parul at Happiness and Food hosts "ThursdayTreeLove" and, here in the United States, it is Thanksgiving.
In the United States, Thanksgiving takes place the fourth Thursday of November. By then, where we live, the weather might well include sub freezing temperatures, frigid winds, and snow.
Sure enough, on Wednesday, it snowed. A dusting for us, a little more for outlying areas. But then it got above freezing, and, after work, I got out with my spouse.
Call it "Leaves, Snow and Thanksgiving". What a combination.
It wasn't like
that in my teen years, when I lived in New York City. Or even when I moved to the Southern Tier of New York over 30 years ago. By now, all the trees would have been bare, back in the 1980's, and there would have been a few inches of snow on the ground.
Climate change has done a lot of things since then.
But let me share a Thanksgiving memory with you, while I am at it.
As a teen, I went with my father (by then, my mother was deceased). I got to visit my aunt (a younger sister of my Dad), uncle and cousins in Brooklyn, almost a two hour ride consisting of a bus, a subway and then another bus (or a long walk) to get to their house. My Aunt always cooked the same meal - turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce (from a can), sweet potatoes with marshmallow topping, and roasted chestnuts after. My Uncle's two brothers would also come and always bring a box of chocolates.
One of those brothers is still alive, too. I believe he is 104 now.
Many of the people I've shared Thanksgivings with are deceased now. The aunt, the uncle, my father, one of the brothers. More recently, my mother in law. But others I cherish remain.
I will be seeing some of them later today. We are all fully vaccinated so hopefully, it will be a joyous day, and no sickness will result. In these times, we of a "certain age" worry about both COVID-19 and the flu. It's already shaping up to be a bad flu season. As for COVID-19, our incidences are going up day by day.
But we still have a lot to be thankful for.
If you are in the United States, I wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving.
Stay safe!
Have a very nice Thanksgiving. It's just me, my youngest son, and my daughter, who just arrived yesterday. Her less-than-an-hour flight took more than four thanks to our valley fog. They circled so long they had to leave and refuel up north!
ReplyDeleteAnd a very Happy Thanksgiving to you as well, Alana!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely memory! Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
Sometimes, it's hard to think of those who have gone before (on Daddy's side, all aunts and uncles are gone now). But then I think about the grand reunion when I finally cross the veil and all is well!
Alana,
ReplyDeleteThe holidays are always a time for reflection, mostly on those who are no longer with us. I think about my grandparents and brother. I also think of cherished memories from the past of the huge family gatherings and the table full of food. The love that filled the room warms my heart this day. Anywho, Happy Thanksgiving, my friend! May the Lord bless you and yours this day and always. I'm grateful for our friendship. It has meant so much to me, more than I can ever say. Enjoy your time gathered with friends and family. XOXO
Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving to you, too, Alana.
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, Alana.
ReplyDelete