I'm thinking about Thanksgiving and spending it at my sister's on Saturday. Yes...Saturday...with so much extended family it just makes sense to pick an alternate day so that we're not scattered at the homes of spouses, children, parents, etc., etc.
I've been asked to bring a side dish and a salad. I think I've got it wired...for the salad baby greens; thin sliced green apples; pecans toasted in a skillet with sugar; crumbled, veiny, beautiful gorgonzola and a lightly sweetened balasamic, cider and olive oil dressing. For the side dish I think sweet potatoes coarsely chopped, tossed with freshly grated nutmeg and brown sugar and sea salt (mmmm...savory sweet), drizzled with dutch butter and 20 year balsamico and roasted at high heat to caramelize.
I am thinking of this gathering...amazingly the most entirely functional group of people I've ever known. How much I love this family...their humor, generosity, inability to judge, and unconditional love. I will watch my sister roll her eyes fondly at her husband's crazy stories ...my brother will absently caress the arm of his wife as they chat with their nephews...my mother's boyfriend of 5 years will dance her around the kitchen, their eyes locked on one another's face...my son will lean over and wrap his arms around his girlfriend, pressing his cheek against hers...my niece's boyfriend will unconsciously breathe in the smell of her hair...never really thinking of it. I watch my 12 year old son and my 13 year old nephew laughing and joking in the corner (no...I don't want to know the subject matter...the thought is alarming!)...both plugged into their PSPs.
We laugh uproariously...we fling good natured insults and open bottle after bottle of good red wine. We are together often and I tend to take these people and their love for granted. I am grateful at this moment for the conscious realization of how important they are and what an impact they've had in my life. And so...for the love these people inspire in me...for the happy life I lead, for the many joys and blessings...I am truly thankful. Happy Thanksgiving.
No comments:
Post a Comment