Friday, November 29, 2019

A look back, decade by decade

Some of what I write today is "what could have been" but much is what happened!

Thanksgiving Day November 24, 1949
Of course I would not remember this as I was 2.  I am sure there were 5 kids home.  Dave was 5, Joan was 7, Janet had just turned 11 and Ronald was 13.  Helen was just a nice dress, a hair do that Bertie had done and oh a year away!

Thanksgiving Day November 26, 1959
I am now 11.  It is a festive day.  Everyone is home.  Ronald and Janet/John are home and there is a the first of many grandchildren, Esther.  Mom is so excited.  She made Ronald's favorite cookies, filled ones.  For me to have Ronald home is the best.  Mom made a double batch of lefsa and by the end of the day it is no more!

Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1969
This is a split holiday.  We spend part of the day in Cayuga with Gail's parents and part with Mom and Dad on the farm.  The first LEE grandson is a little more than a week away but at the time we do not know if it will be a boy or girl.  Mom shed tears as we blessed the meal.  Of course she is thinking of Janet and Ronald.  NO filled cookies any more as Mom never made them after Ronald died.  The cookie part, I am not sad as I did not like them BUT on holidays there is always an empty feeling.

Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 1979
It is the third Thanksgiving we have spent in St. Paul.  It is just too hectic to drive up to North Dakota as the boys are now 10, 8 and 6.  Cynthia is yet to arrive next year and as of today we have NO idea that will happen.  We made lefsa in the morning to the delight of the kids.  The fire has been on since early morning but I need to split more wood for the evening.  We make calls to Mom and Dad and Chic and Marian.  They both say they wish we could be there.

Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 1989
It is the first Thanksgiving not all of us have been home as John is off to college in California.  I have this feeling in my spirit that this is kind of the beginning of changes in our family.  The kids are now getting into adulthood and I am not sure I have appreciated the togetherness in the past.  I vow to be better at living in the moment.

Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1999
Gail's dad and my parents are no longer with us.  Thanksgiving has changed a lot.  It seems like the kids are all grown but we are so happy to have all of them home.  I maybe should not say that as the lefsa goes way too fast!  We have some neighbors over for the afternoon and the house is busy with the fire place glowing, the card table has a puzzle half put together and the dining room table is covered with cards and games.  Gail and I are exhausted as the paper this morning was just so big and we have too many customers.  We have been up since 3:30 and bedtime comes way before the kids are tired.

Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving is a pretty solemn affair as Gail's death is fresh in every one's mind.  The kids are home and we do have the big meal but NO lefsa as the kids are not ready to take it on and I certainly can not do it.  The highlight of the day is the grandchildren.  Henry, Liam, Leo, Faustina, Audrey and Jude, 3 months old are now part of the clan.  The kids do not stay late and after kind of cleaning up the downstairs I go to bed early.

Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2019
Terry and I spend a quiet day.  The turkey came out of the grill about 3:00 and we had a nice meal with a LOT of leftover turkey!  It was a peaceful day and we enjoyed each other's company.  In reflecting on it I see twilight!  Of course I am not saying I will not enjoy many more Thanksgiving Days but as I reflect back there is more to reflect on then to look forward to and I do not say that in any kind of sad way.  It just is what it is.  I have found that one of the most important things in life is to take today for what it is and make the most of it.  The past is past and who knows what will happen tomorrow so make the most of today.

It seems that each year there are people who do not return to Naples because of age and often people we know pass on.  When we arrived here I mentioned that a gal who played and was the captain of a team died this fall.  Today I asked if anyone knew if Michael Guglielmo was gong to be able to play tennis as I heard he was sick this summer.  I had him signed up for my team this winter.  One of the guys I was playing with said he died October 31.  I had played with him in May and he was playing well.  It certainly gets one to thinking.  

One could be sure there is NO FP now as it is after 10:00 PM.

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