Thanksgiving

The holidays, especially Thanksgiving, always bring memories
of holidays and family. I am reminded of the wonderful family
times we had. My mother would always begin cooking several
days before. She would first de-shell the tiny little pecans
from our huge tree. The tree was not a hybrid, but a volunteer,
and the nuts were very small. We all participated in
that first part of the making of pecan pies.

Nobody could match Mother's pecan pie. There was never a
lot of gooey, sweet stuff under the pecans. They went from
the top all the way down to the crust, with just enough juice
to hold the pie together. Nothing ever tasted as good as
that pecan pie.

Mother would also make fruitcake, divinity and fudge.
Every child in the family could hardly wait for that magic
day to come. In the days of my youth, most of Daddy's
family would be at our house. I can't remember ever going
to any of my aunts or my uncle's. They were there, and
that whole gathering would be 20 to 25 people.

In the old days the men and any of the women that the
dining room could hold would eat first. The children,
of course, ate last. My mother always put back some of
the best food so that she could be sure that all of the
children had some of the good stuff, too.

I did not realize at the time just how special my mother
was. I am so glad that I did realize it after I was grown
and she knew how much I loved her and how much
I appreciated all that she did. She was the best!

The holidays have lost some of their luster for me.
I am usually sad at this time of the year. So many
of the family I have loved so much have gone and
my generation is the "old folks."

I do have much to be thankful for, however. I am in
my third year of remission from lymphoma. I did
not expect this reprieve, and I thank God every day
for it. I also have two young grand daughters.
Marla, Vicki's little girl, will be 6 in May.
Chelsea, Houston's little girl, will be 2 in December,
and they are expecting a new baby in June. These
two little ones have brought me much joy, and I am sure
the baby in June will be a wonderful addition to our
family. I can hardly wait.

I get a reprieve this year; Vicki will be cooking. All
I have to do is make the dressing and anything else
she wants me to do. This makes me feel a little guilty.
She works and I don't. I do work; I just do it at home.

More later.