| I am thankful for... |
| Written by Elaina R. Bergamini | |
| Wednesday, 23 November 2005 | |
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Thanksgiving Everyone is so rushed to get through this holiday. Pass it by. Ignore it. Commercials are all geared towards Christmas already. News programs desperately try to keep this holiday from sinking beneath a tidal wave of glitter, lights, tinsel, and red and green by talking turkey- how to cook it, cut it, serve it. This holiday is more than that. It is about HARVEST. It is about THANKS. It is about FAMILY and FRIENDS and all that they give us every day. This holiday of all means more to me than any other. In truth, they all hold special significance, but this is the holiday that holds my attention despite all of the commercial input that assaults me on TV and on the radio. On Thanksgiving eve, my family would load into a vehicle (a jalopy as I recall) and make an 8 hour trip to upstate NY to visit my mother’s family. In the beginning, we would have Thanksgiving in the living room of my grandparent’s farmhouse. The adults would be seated at the elegant dining room table. The candlestick holders had crystal droplets from the bases, which jiggled as everyone passed dishes and water goblets. There was a separate conversation, which took place at the grown up table. The children sat at a separate table- my brother, cousin Carl and I. My cousin was well over 10 years my senior and dealing with his own adolescent troubles. My aunt, before she got married, sat with us as well. Dishes were passed from the adult table to the children’s table. Later, as my brother and I became older, our family would meet the rest of the family at the Ramada Inn on Thanksgiving Day and then we would have the family Thanksgiving on the day after Thanksgiving. After which, we would attack the malls with my grandmother. This holiday, I am not with my family… or not with my born family. My husband and I now live off the grid and our “back-up” generator seized and our primary isn’t connected to propane yet. As I think back on those many holidays with my family, my husband and I will be wiring our new generator. Despite these challenges and separation from my family, I couldn’t be more thankful for- * My family * My husband * My New married family * My lifelong friends * Friends who support us in all our endeavors and join us in their own * My ever-understanding friends * Living on renewable energy * Living in the country * Long walks in the woods * Daisy Mae * Snow! * Sunrises on the mountains * The opportunity to follow my dreams and whims |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 23 November 2005 ) |