It's a different Thanksgiving this year. When we moved to Illinois we had no family close by. Our family was all in Hawaii and California. New Chicago friends warmly included us in their festivities. Moving into our first house we met our neighbors Peggy and Jim and they made us part of their family. I was heartbroken when they moved away.
Another family moved into the same house and we again became part of a calabash family. Bill and Caroline are anthropologists in African Studies and for a couple of decades we alternated Thanksgivings in each other's houses. They often invited interesting, world aware guests who added a lot of spice and knowledge to our full Thanksgiving table.
But now it's our turn to have moved away and I understand that Bill and Caroline and their children are all in different locations around the country and our two children are in the Midwest and Southwest and we are here in Hawaii.
However, for the first time we've got my mother, brother, sister-in-law and nephews for the holidays and that is something I'm looking forward to. I'm missing Bill and Caroline, Peggy and Jim and all their children but I guess life brings changes. This Thanksgiving I'm thankful for the friendships we've had even though we have to sustain them from far away and I'm thankful for our family and friends here who are opening up their lives to welcome us in. If the airfares go down far enough maybe someday some of those friends and Tif and Jon could come for Thanksgiving and we could have a Thanksgiving of our old and new lives brought together. Now that would be something indeed!
Great memories Kay !
ReplyDeleteSee You later !
love your dining table photo...on to new memories and new friends added to the old.
ReplyDeleteWhat a warm and inviting photo...This year will bring the beginnings of new Thanksgiving memories for your family-enjoy the day!
ReplyDeleteI am not surprised that you were adopted by all your neighbors...Enjoy this Thanksgiving with many of your family..
ReplyDeleteKay, I hope you, your family and your friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I'm glad you can share it with everyone!
ReplyDeleteYour Thanksgiving table looks wonderfully inviting and I know you'll have a lovely holiday -- not like in the past, different, but lovely and hopefully the time will come when old friends can come to visit. My son and I have been included in the get together of one of our neighbors at his mother's house with all of their family -- we did it last year, too, and it's great fun. Things always seem to change, to be different sometimes from year to year, but always with good things to replace the sad ones. I do wish you and family a very Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteThe older we get, it seems that holidays become happier and sadder. There is more pleasure in who we have, and more saddness for those who aren't there. Maybe that's not right, maybe it doesn't have anything so much to do with age, and more just that we want to be with everyone we love. I'm reminded of my niece who had a rather confusing first few years, and she cried so hard and was so heartbroken anytime one of her loved ones left. She wanted to be with everyone, and I guess we do too.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure this year your Thanksgiving will be a wonderful one around that lovely table. We keep our old friends and family members in our hearts no matter how far away they may be. Have a happy day.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely post, Kay. I know of the changes in those around the Thanksgiving table over the years. Pain and joy.
ReplyDeleteThis photo should be made into a wall picture, it's so absolutely beautiful! I am so happy to have found you for friend,
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving, Kay.
Hi Kay!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your sweet comment on my blog!
Oh, you live in Hawaii!
I'm jealous of you!!!
Hawaii is a really nice place.
I participated in Honolulu race two years ago!
I was more than delighted people cheered me up on the side of road.
By the way actually I didn't know " thanks givng "
I just learned it at English class last night!
I know exactly how you feel. We had some great holidays while living away from family. Now that we're home, we have family around the table; mostly my husbands. I miss our friends and the relaxed atomsphere of the people we adopted as family, sometimes I wish I had that back. I do love having family here too though.
ReplyDeleteHave a great Thanksgiving Kay!
Yes, change happens. Kids grow up, friends move or we do, families expand and have new centers.
ReplyDeleteI will share Thanksgiving with one of my sisters and her house full of her children and grandchildren. My mother will also be there. We will have a house full, but will still miss those who can't be there.
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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