Friday, November 18, 2011

Recollections of First Thanksgivings - BFF 142


     Some of my earliest recollections from Thanksgivings past included not just one huge meal, but several.  Not only did my mother make a huge spread, but I also had three sets of Grandparents to share Thanksgiving with.   Usually, we would have a meal  at home that my mother prepared on Thanksgiving day.  Then we would travel to each of the grandparent’s homes Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Turkey, turkey, and even more turkey!!  By the end of it,  you came close to growing feathers and saying “Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!”


        Although I have memories of attending the Thanksgiving festivities of all three sets of Grandparents, my dad’s parent’s celebration always stood out.  For one thing, there were always a lot more people.  I had 5 sets of aunts and uncles at that gathering plus a slew of cousins, with second cousins coming along later on.  


         On holidays long tables were set up end to end down the center of the living room into the master bedroom with chairs lined up on both sides dominating Grandma‘s farmhouse.  Grandma sat on one end of the long table, and Grandpa on the other.   Behind Grandpa there was always another table set up in the master bedroom and all the cousins fought to get to sit alone in the bedroom in that special place of distinction. 
     
    
       The table was set with Grandma’s  best tablecloths, red and clear glass plates,  silverware, and water goblets.  When it was time, we would all gather around that massive table and joined hands much like the Who’s down in  Whoville singing “Count Your Blessings”.   Then Grandpa would lead us all in prayer.  Grandpa always mumbled when he prayed and he was so far away that usually I couldn’t make out what he was saying.  Somehow you would figure out when he was finished by the loud proclamation of “Amen!!  and then we would go single file, out the front door, through the garage, into the kitchen where all the wonderful food awaited.   Usually it was always colder than a witches tit in the Klondike outside, and by the time you got back into the house, the heat from the kitchen steamed up your glasses so you couldn’t see three inches in front of your face.


         Since I was the youngest, I was always finished eating before anyone else and antsy to get up and run around with my cousin.  The only problem with that is that with all the tables and chairs, you couldn’t squeeze a mouse fart out once you were seated.  We got around that too by having a merry ole time crawling under the network of tables to wherever we wanted to go.


     When everyone was finally finished eating, the women retreated into the kitchen to wash dishes and the men set to work taking down the tables.  In their place, a few card tables were erected and quite a few rousing games of Euchre and Yahtzee were played.  Sometimes Grandpa would dig out his home movies and the whole family would gather in the living room to watch.  Other times, everyone would just visit.






       It always amazed me that no matter how many grand kids there were, and there were a G0d’s plenty, Grandma and Grandpa would always give us hugs and kisses when we arrived and when it was time to go home.  They had so much love for each and every one of us and instilled in me the importance of family, thankfulness of blessings, G0d, and faith.


       Sadly those long lost Thanksgivings are only a memory as many of the key players have passed on from this life.  Their smiles and laughter will never be forgotten, and I can still hear the family singing “Count Your Blessings” in my mind.  I can only hope that I can instill the same sense of family, love, and tradition in my own children.  Until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a truckers wife.

18 comments:

  1. So wonderful! My own family gathered at the farm where Grandma, Mom and her sisters prepared the dinner. I can still see the four of them bustling around the kitchen while kids played games and the men watched TV in the parlor. Of all those people, there are only 5 of us left - my 2 sisters, 2 cousins and me. We were all small children then. Now we preside over our own families....

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  2. Darlene, that is how I am now, presiding over my own Thanksgiving with my husband and kids. At one point in time, I had so many relatives to visit on holidays, and then gradually they all passed away where like your family there are next to no one left. Those that are, celebrate with their own as I do. Still it is wonderful to remember. Thank you for stopping by to read and comment. I am so pleased you enjoyed it and was able to take a peek into my best memories of the season. :D

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  3. My parents hosted holidays like the ones you described. Big crowd, boisterous bunch, loads of love. It was terrific.

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  4. Great memories. Even though I come from a large family of aunts and cousins, both my grandmothers died when I was young so we didn't get to have this kind of huge family Thanksgivings. Thanks for sharing!

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  5. Word Nerd, I really miss the big get together with all the aunts, uncles, cousins, and Grandma and Grandpa. At this point there aren't that many of us left. It is amazing how much a person appreciates something like that in hindsight. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!

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  6. Kat, That is to bad!! Thank you for stopping in to read and comment. I am so pleased you enjoyed my post full of memories.

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  7. such a heartwarming post. loved reading this post, kathy. hope you have a great wknd.

    jasmine

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  8. You have wonderful memories of Thanksgiving!! Great share!

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  9. It warms the heart doesn't it...when we have these wonderful memories. Keep them alive for your children. Lovely post!

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  10. What wonderful memories you have, Kathy! That is what I pray we have someday when my children are grown and have their families.

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  11. AdamAlexMommy, Thank you for stopping in to read and for your lovely comments. I am so pleased you enjoyed it. Hope you have a wonderful weekend too.

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  12. Jenn, thanks for stopping by to read and comment! Unfortunately you don't realize how great something is until you don't have it anymore. At least that is the truth in my case.

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  13. Susan, you are so right!! I grinned like a silly sentimental fool the whole time I was writing this post. LOL Thanks for stopping in to read and comment. I am so pleased you enjoyed it!!

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  14. Theresa, I am with you on that!! I would love to have big gatherings like this with my children and their families someday!! It would be so cool. Thank you for stopping by to read and comment. I am so pleased you enjoyed it!!

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  15. I love the big dinners and I love that my sister stepped in and took it over when our mom wasn't able to do it anymore. I do the summer gathering and she does Thanksgiving. I have only brother and one sister and we try to get all our kids and their kids, but they don't all come. We always have a nice crowd though. Somewhere around 18 to 24.
    Have you thought of inviting everyone you have just one time to your place? Of course, they won't all come, but you might be surprised to learn you aren't the only one who remembers and misses the big family gatherings.

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  16. Jo, I always love them too. I have made every effort to make a big deal of holidays for my little family with special meals and traditions. Everyone lives far and wide, and basically get together among themselves as separate families. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments.

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  17. Nice to read about all your memories of the big family gatherings. When I was a youngster, we lived in Michigan when most of the family was in West Virginia. We had our big family gatherings in the summer when we had vacation time. On Thanksgiving we often got together with a bunch of friends who didn't have large families either. But, it always seemed to be a large gang and lots of fun cooking, eating, game playing and such!!!

    Yesterday, we did all of this but with just five of us. But, it was wonderful!! Thanks for another beautiful post.

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  18. Betty, when I was a kid grandma got the whole family together three times a year. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the 4th of July. Thank you for stopping by to read and share your memories!

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