Memories.

I want to start off this blog to ask a question that has been bothering me lately and then I want to reflect a little. Okay? Okay. How bad did John the Baptist's hair have to be if thousands of years later he is drawn and remembered as the man that had wild, crazy, unkept hair. This is coming from a time when hair salons, product, scissors or even hats were readily available. You can't tell me that everyone was walking around with every hair in place in a land that involved goats, and sheep and various desert like situations. These are the things that keep me up at night people!

Last night as I was putting my son to bed we were reviewing the day, and I started getting nostalgic. I asked him his favorite part of Thanksgiving, and he told me family, food and games. My kind of boy! I asked him if he wanted to know about what my Thanksgivings used to be and of course my child who hates to sleep said yes.

When I was a child my mother's parents lived in Michigan and my father's parents lived about an hour and a half away. So, most of the time we would either go to my father's parents or they would come to our house. I liked when they would come to our house because that meant I got to watch the entire Macy's Thanksgiving day parade but I also liked going to my Grandmother's house. The woman could cook! There were always 12 of us, with enough food to feed 100. She would cook every meat, vegetable and bread anyway you could imagine, and the desserts? Oh my word! There were enough desserts for everyone to have their own pie, cake or pudding!

I can remember driving up there squooshed in the middle of the back seat and being so very glad when my daddy said does anyone see Grandmother's mountain? Because that meant we only had about 10 more minutes in the car. I remember coming around that last corner before we would turn into Grandmother's long gravel driveway. My Granddaddy would be sitting on the carport waiting...watching. He was always so happy to see us. Once inside my tiny little Grandmother would stop whatever she was doing to get a big hug and off we would run to play whereever we wanted.

My cousin and I would fight over the relish tray, especially the olives, because that was the only thing we were allowed to touch while my Grandmother was finishing up lunch. I can remember rubbing vaseline on my poor uncle's bald head, and him letting us, for not apparent reason. The man has got to have some Sainthood points for that one. I can remember the one...did you hear that? One, Thanksgiving that my mother and Aunts made "the men and boys" clean up the dishes. I especially remember my Grandmother playing hide and go seek with her German Shepard and the dog would actually cover its eyes while she hid and look for her and then hide behind a bush with his tail sticking out when it was her turn.

My family would have a prayer and then everyone would fill their plates. The adults would go to a back room where the formal dining table was set up, leaving the 4 kids in the kitchen...with the food...especially the desserts! After we ate everyone would lay around the kids would play and we would all just enjoy each other's company. A perfect Thanksgiving in my mind as a small child.

Thanksgiving has changed over the years and it surprises me just how vivid some of my memories are. Smells bring back floods of memories or a certain song will spark my mind too. My extended family will not all be together today. Some have passed, some have moved to other countries, some have moved to other cities, but all will be remembered today in my heart.

Today's Thanksgiving will be filled with new traditions. I have children now. I am expected to cook now. I have in-laws. I am thankful for all of the blessings that God has heaped upon my head and I pray that today you will be able to enjoy your Thanksgiving no matter what your circumstances. If you are sad today remember the good times and find someone else who may be sad as well. Just like my mama always says the best way to make yourself feel better is by doing something nice for someone else.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!