2020 has been a crazy year to say the least. And with the holidays coming it seems like things will be a bit different. Families not getting together. Some places banning Thanksgiving all together. Some people will be alone on Thanksgiving. And for many, it may be a very sad time.
So I want to do something. I want to share one of my many fond memories of Thanksgiving. See if you can relate. Maybe you can picture the perfect Thanksgiving for yourself? And maybe this was mine. But I’ll let you decide.
It was the night before I was supposed to go to my Great Grandparents in Vermillion. Me and my brother had just got done watching a movie. We knew we had to get to bed. Since it was going to be a long day. And an hour of riding in the car one way. I knew that whole side of the family would be there. My aunts and uncles. My grandparents and cousins. All of them shoved into a house built to live four people comfortably. “What’s your favorite part of Thanksgiving?” I asked my brother. He said he liked the pie. “I like the sweet potatoes.” “Yuck! Those are gross. How can you eat those things.” Ironically, these would become one of his favorites as well years later. We both decided we should get to bed. And our sister was in bed well before us.
The car ride was always so long. But there was almost an electricity in the car. An anticipation that was hard to hide. So being bored, and kids, we would fight back and forth. Picking on one another. Meanwhile, our parents threating to turn the car around for the tenth or twentieth time. Of course we knew these were idle threats. And usually within five miles we were back at it. We were all dressed very nice. Not quite church clothes. But definitely nicer than just going to school.
After almost an hour of fighting back and forth, we had finally made it to Vermillion. We could see the Dakota Dome from miles away. And knew it was time to settle down so our Dad didn’t make good on his threats of spankings. As we pulled up to the house a line of cars was already there. Three sets of cars in the driveway and some on the street. The air outside was crisp. And there was a almost bone chilling light breeze that cut through the air. But as we walked in the house the scent of food and warmth were overwhelming. I could start to smell turkey cooking from the street already. But walking in was like a storm of smells that were so inviting.
Grandma and both Great Grandma’s quickly approached us with hugs. And tell us to put our coats in the back room. An almost deafening roar of kids playing and people talking filled the air. And of course a line of all five of us that were in the car had already formed to use the bathroom. I think I’ll just use the bathroom in the basement.
As I walked down the steps, I could smell cherry pipe tobacco and a hot fire place. I could hear the rack of pool from Great Grandpas pool table and the crackle of a slow burning fire. I also seen where the “kids table” was located. And knew this was going to be where I enjoyed my meal. As I approached the bathroom Great Grandpa stopped me. “How’s it going sport? You are getting so big. I’m gonna tie bricks to your head to keep you from growing.” Very soon behind him was Grandpa coming up and giving me a hug as well. “How you doing? How you doing in school?” After finally making my way through the gauntlet of everyone I had made it to the bathroom.
My cousins rushed up to me. “Hey Jeremy! We got the toys out! Come play with us!” The same top and dog on a string was sitting on the floor. The same ones we had played with for years. “I will. I just wanted to say hi to everyone yet.” As I walked back upstairs, I seen a tray of pickles, olives, beets, and vegetables. By this time the smells in the house got the best of me. And my stomach was growling. So I reached for a handful of olives knowing full well I was going to get scolded by my Mom and Aunt sitting there at the table. “Don’t fill up on that stuff! Dinner is almost ready.” When swooping right behind me was my Uncle grabbing a handful of the same things. “Hey! That means you too right?” ” Sorry squirt. I’m an adult. Those rules don’t apply to me” he laughed. My Mom starred him down as if to almost say “quit it” without a word. After all. He was only ten years older than me.
I walked up to the one aunt that helped my mom keep me away from the food and gave her a hug. “How’s it going bud? Getting those grades up in school?” “I am.” She had been helping me in my writing and math. And did a ton for me over the years. She always held a special place in my heart. As I looked across the table I seen my other aunt sitting there. Even though I didn’t see her as much, she was always a ton of fun. So I ran over and gave her a hug as well. “Hey kiddo! How have you been?” It was about this time I seen my great aunt and uncle come through the door. He had always teased me that he was going to eat all the pie before I could get some. And he always talked to me like I was an adult. Something I loved and respected.
“OK! It’s time to say grace! Everyone come up here so we can start eating!” After a few minutes of fumbling around, we all crowded into the same area. And Grandpa said grace for us. It sounded a bit like this. “Heavenly Father, we thank you for the food we are about to eat and the gifts we have received. Please bless all of us and look out for us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.”
Then all of the kids got in line first. I looked up and my uncle was standing in front of me. “Hey! You said you were an adult?” It was about that time that my Grandmother stepped in. “Get your butt to the back of the line!” ” What? I’m a kid right?” She just pointed her finger at him as he laughed and meandered to the back.
As I filled my plate with all of the amazing food, I knew right away there wouldn’t be room for everything. I had already plotted out in my head that seconds were forth coming. And which foods were going to be on my plate for the second round.
There had to be two extra tables other than the head table upstairs. I went down to the one in the basement. Two of my cousins already sitting down eating. About this time I seen the aunt that had been helping me with my homework come down and sit with us as well. With my brother close behind. “Shouldn’t you be up at the adult table?” “There isn’t quite enough room. Besides, is it OK with you? Do I smell funny or something?” ” I just laughed. To this day I’m not sure if she came to that table to moderate fighting between me and my brother and my two cousins. Or if she just wanted to. Regardless. It was nice to have her there.
As I dove into the food hours of prep work and cooking had paid off. Everything tasted amazing. The salads were so yummy and full of flavor. The turkey was moist and plump. The gravy flavored to perfection. And you could almost taste the love put into every bite.
Before I could get through my second plate I heard dishes being washed already. I really wanted that pie, but I was just going to have to take the chance my great uncle may eat it all. Because I didn’t have room for another bite.
“Love. Before you leave today you have to make a Christmas list for me and Grandpa.” So me and my cousins sat together and mapped out a newspaper ad.
But with half the house in a food coma, me and my cousins had plans of heading for the pool table. “You guys be carefully. I don’t want anyone getting broken fingers in there.” Great Grandpa said. But he was foreshadowing the inevitable. One of us kids would smash our fingers with the balls. I’m not sure if there was blood, but I knew it had to hurt. And we had only hoped there wasn’t a broken finger.
As we got chased out of the pool room the football game was on. With what was left of the crackle of the fireplace in the background we were ordered to be quiet so they could watch the game. Even though the adults were talking over the top of the TV much louder than we were. As I went back up the steps most of the ladies were up at the table. Sipping on coffee and just discussing life in general.
I looked up and seen it staring at me. The pie. “Mom, can I have a piece?” “Where do you put all of that kid? OK. I’ll help you.” As I walked back down to watch football with everyone else, they couldn’t help but notice the pie. And slowly one by one people thought it looked like a good idea as well.
It seemed like we were there for five minutes even though it was more like 6 hours. As we headed home it was a much quieter car ride. Me, my brother and my sister all sleeping or very close to it. Knowing that we were going to have Thanksgiving with the other side of my family soon. With more family that I loved just as much. All of my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. They all held a special place in my heart. And they all still do.
As I hugged all of my family when we left that day, no one told me it would never be like that again. No one told me it may be the best Thanksgiving you’ll ever have. And know one said that you will remember this and cherish it always. Why? Because you should cherish everything. There should be nothing that you don’t cherish. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that we should never take anything for granted. Don’t presume you will be able to do the same things tomorrow that you did today. Because the fact is, right now, will never happen again. And tomorrow, will be to late.
I am very blessed to have grown up with a very loving caring family. And I love them all dearly. And I have a motto I live by.
“Learn from and cherish the past, but don’t live in it. Live in the present. Because it will never come again. And hope the best for the future. Because only you can create it.”
Some will call that a bit simple. And maybe it is. Maybe I look at things and see a silver lining where some don’t. But couldn’t the world use more of that? Don’t people need more hope and less doom and gloom? I keep hearing people talking about “waking up” and seeing reality. But I often wonder if they aren’t missing it for themselves?
It was in a cartoon I seen once that I think summed it up best for myself. “Today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.” If there is one thing I hope this Thanksgiving for everyone, it’s that they don’t feel alone. And they don’t live in the past. And that everyone that reads this feels loved. This is my gift to you. Everyone reading this, and everyone that doesn’t. Reach out to your family and friends no matter where they are this Thanksgiving. Let everyone that means anything to you not feel alone. And wish them a Happy Thanksgiving. As I do too you.
Until next time.
Grandpa Waybe
Angie