Thanksgiving and Giving Thanks

Traditionally, our family celebrated Thanksgiving at my mom and dad's house. My mom made the turkey and stuffing (best ever!), and Terri, and the girls & I made everything else (it was all about the mashed potatoes for Terri & Alaina). My dad, Joe, and Don, and, as the girls got older, an assortment of boyfriends, watched football, while the girls gathered in the kitchen to talk and pick on snacks as we prepared the meal. Eventually, the task became too much for my mom, so Terri & I alternated hosting at our houses. Celebrating Thanksgiving with the whole family was a given - never- questioned - comforting tradition.

This year we needed to change things up. My dad was no longer able to leave their facility. Fortunately, Bellbrook has a wonderful in-house restaurant, so Terri & I made our Thanksgiving reservation there. Because reservations are limited to 8, it would not include grand or great-grandchildren. For the first time in 31-years, it would be just Rose & Bill, Terri & Don, Joe & me, and Teresa (Joe's mom). A new tradition was in the making.

My mom passed away two days after the reservation was made - two weeks before Thanksgiving. But, alas, this post is not only about the holiday of Thanksgiving, but the reason we celebrate it. I am so thankful that she was doing well enough up to that point that we had every reason to believe Mom would be with us for Thanksgiving. I am endlessly thankful that I had this amazing woman as my mom, and for the strength and gratitude she imparted in us. Perhaps because of all the hardships she overcame, she did not acknowledge limitations, and anyone who knew my mom talked about how grateful she was on a daily basis.

I am thankful that she infused our family with boundless love. She loved us so much it was a constant in the universe for each of us. She was our base and, before Alzheimer's, our shelter. Eventually, she needed us the way that we, as children, had needed her. I am so thankful that her example taught us the boundlessness of love. Her whole family knew how to give her all of the love she had given us when she needed it most. Thank you, God, that we knew how to do that, because she had taught us.

We are also very thankful that Papa was still with us on Thanksgiving to celebrate the blessings of our family and each other.