Susan Boles's Blog - Posts Tagged "thanksgiving"
Thanksgiving Memories
Thanksgiving memories
Thanksgiving is this Thursday, and I'm feeling nostalgic about Thanksgivings long gone, along with a lot of the people from those memories.
When I was growing up, we would have a big potluck family Thanksgiving dinner at my maternal grandparents' house. It was on Highway 45 just up the road from Boyd's Grocery and the McNairy Road. All of my aunts and uncles would be there with their spouses. There were six kids in the family. And all of my first cousins would be there as well. There were EIGHTEEN of us first cousins! All of these people, plus great aunts and great-uncles who were there or 'just dropping by to see everyone.' All crammed into my grandparents' small 1920's farmhouse with a big wrap-around porch. I was still eating at the kids table in my thirties! Along with the next generation of kids coming along.
My Aunt Helen always made the chicken and dressing. To this day, it's my favorite. And a few years ago, I managed to score a small pan made by her granddaughter, who has the recipe and can make it taste just like Aunt Helen's. Funny thing about specific recipes...it's very rare for anyone else to make them, and they taste just like the original.
Those Thanksgivings were full of family, and sharing, and laughter, and warmth. I treasure them always. The memories are bright and shining each year.
Now, my grandparents are gone. My mom and her twin brother are the only ones still with us from their kids. And several of the first cousins are gone as well. And that's how life works. We come into this world, and we leave it. But, I believe, as long as someone remembers us and says our names, we are never gone.
My grandparents always put up their tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. My mom always does, and I do as well. Traditions 🙂
What are some of your cherished memories and/or traditions?
Thanksgiving is this Thursday, and I'm feeling nostalgic about Thanksgivings long gone, along with a lot of the people from those memories.
When I was growing up, we would have a big potluck family Thanksgiving dinner at my maternal grandparents' house. It was on Highway 45 just up the road from Boyd's Grocery and the McNairy Road. All of my aunts and uncles would be there with their spouses. There were six kids in the family. And all of my first cousins would be there as well. There were EIGHTEEN of us first cousins! All of these people, plus great aunts and great-uncles who were there or 'just dropping by to see everyone.' All crammed into my grandparents' small 1920's farmhouse with a big wrap-around porch. I was still eating at the kids table in my thirties! Along with the next generation of kids coming along.
My Aunt Helen always made the chicken and dressing. To this day, it's my favorite. And a few years ago, I managed to score a small pan made by her granddaughter, who has the recipe and can make it taste just like Aunt Helen's. Funny thing about specific recipes...it's very rare for anyone else to make them, and they taste just like the original.
Those Thanksgivings were full of family, and sharing, and laughter, and warmth. I treasure them always. The memories are bright and shining each year.
Now, my grandparents are gone. My mom and her twin brother are the only ones still with us from their kids. And several of the first cousins are gone as well. And that's how life works. We come into this world, and we leave it. But, I believe, as long as someone remembers us and says our names, we are never gone.
My grandparents always put up their tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. My mom always does, and I do as well. Traditions 🙂
What are some of your cherished memories and/or traditions?
