As I sit down to write a post about Thanksgiving, a flood of memories take over my thought process. Growing up in a small town where my Mom made the full blown Thanksgiving dinner complete with home made mashed potatoes, gravy and stuffing Thanksgiving had a predictable character.

Readers of my age will remember their dads carving the turkeys after appropriate photos were taken. What we thought we’d do with those photos I have no  idea.  

I also remember the exception to these experiences like taking our children to Disney World over Thanksgiving and having dinner at the Brown Jug in Universal Studio. Or the years I’ve been on photography tours or traveling in countries where Thanksgiving was “just another day.”  

This year I thought I’d look back over more recent Thanksgivings—actually those we’ve celebrated once my Mother wasn’t able to cook or host. Our traditions have changed to sometimes incorporate Take Out Turkeys and lots of odd combinations. One year I tried cooking a bird and guests laughed because I put it in the pan upside down. Who knew?  Not me. My Mother always did it.  

In some recent years we have gone to our cottage and because of the limitations in our kitchen, we have made beer Can Chicken on the grill. It’s less mess and just as good as a real turkey.  

I personally enjoy table setting more than cooking so Thanksgivings at home always incorporate a pretty centerpiece. Last year my second oldest grand daughter took charge of doing the table at the  cottage with simple construction paper and grocery store flowers. What a delight. 

Another tradition we sometimes follow is for the grand children to do “fun food” as we call it. 

Creative. I hope we can do this again.  

Thanksgiving has involved games. My Mother, who played bridge all her adult life, loved gathering with the family to play cards including Duck, Duck, Moose. It’s lively and fun.  

Occasionally we’ve had  guests. One year our exchange student from Spain and her now husband joined us.  We also like to take photos to capture the moment. 

Often the weather is miserable. Some years it is great and perfect for a walk. One year it snowed two days before Thanksgiving and then late falling leaves drifted down on  top of the snow. It was beautiful, if not weird.  

Mostly I remember my Mother and appreciate all the effort she put into the holidays and the great memories she created and how my Dad took such pride in carving the turkey. Someday I’m going to dig out the  old prints, scan them and create a family memory book. Might be a good thing to do this year while confined inside during the Pandemic. 

So, I ask you?  What are your Thanksgiving Memories? If you have vivid ones, do share in the comment box below.  Or share what you are grateful for? In a Pandemic and troublesome year expressing gratitude what is is good around us is a positive thing to do.