Okay, Thanksgiving was yesterday. I don’t think I remember a time in my life without a table full of food and multiple tables of folks. It’s been a celebration for decades where the tables have been filled with both sides of my family as well as family friends. Yesterday, my dad came over for dinner. It was the first time I had seen him since Father’s Day. I really have taken isolation seriously. It didn’t feel like Thanksgiving and I didn’t feel like turkey and dressing. But he did. So, he brought over plates of “Thanksgiving” food that his younger sister had cooked. I made smothered porkchops and rice. We sat outside on the patio with the ceiling fans blowing and ate. He ate turkey and dressing; I ate smothered pork chops. We had a glass of after dinner sherry and he went home. I AM THANKFUL, THANKFUL, THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE REMAINED HEALTHY IN THIS TIME OF CRAZINESS WHEN FOLKS WON’T STAY HOME, WON’T STOP TRAVELING NEEDLESSLY, AND WON’T SIMPLY WEAR A MASK.
But the day started with me creaming sugar and butter together as I made 5-flavor pound cakes for the households that would not be gathering at my house. In reality only about 5 of the dozen or more folks I celebrate with annually are blood relatives. The others are family by choice and heart and who I love fiercely and completely. An adopted nephew made the delivery rounds for me…and I felt a little closer to all those I was missing. I AM THANKFUL, THANKFUL, THANKFUL FOR FRIENDS WHO I KNOW I CAN DEPEND ON; FAMILY I LOVE; AND THE GIFT OF TOGETHERNESS EVEN WHEN WE ARE APART. AMEN.