ThanksTaking

I don’t feel like I gave out all that much this Thanks-giving. Really. My day consisted of rolling out of bed and drinking coffee. Eating and more eating. I wished a bunch of people Happy T-Day on ThatSpace, something I rarely do. That’s giving, I guess. I also wrapped Christmas presents. That’s preparing to give, I guess. It’s not the kind of giving that really means anything where Thanksgiving is concerned. At least not to me. I’ve always been bugged by the traditions of the third Thursday of November. Eat until you physically can’t stuff in another bite, watch football with your belt unbuckled and your eyes glazed over. Then what? I don’t know. We always bow our heads in BlessThisFood prayer but I’m not buying it. Do we really think about what we should be thankful for? Do we acknowledge what’s taken for granted? Do we even know what we couldn’t do without? Here’s what I’m really, really thankful for: my life. Seriously. I love my life and all that comes with it.
But, here’s why I feel so glutinous: my father-in-law is actually father-in-gourmet. Homemade everything. Yummy everything and tons of it. Bright orange sweet sweet potatoes, creamy garlic mashed potatoes, spicy pureed squash, traditional green bean casserole with those crunchy onion things, three kinds of cranberry sauce (whole, jellied and orange), airy, buttery popovers, apple stuffing, can’t forget the turkey, apple pie with whipped cream, chocolate cream pie with whipped cream, two kinds of pumpkin pie with whipped cream. Fifteen ways to fat…with coffee. I think I ate it all. My stomach is full but something’s missing. I miss my family. I miss mom’s cheesy attempt at hors’deurves. I miss Hub’s frozen chocolate pie. I miss home.
I can’t wait for the Hot Chocolate run on December 2nd. That will be my time to give back. Tonight was all about the ThanksTaking.