The Sometimes Forgotten Holiday

Thanksgiving - is my favorite holiday. But it seems to get lost in the shuffle while we're trying to find the perfect gift(s) for Christmas. The hustle and bustle of Christmas invades Thanksgiving space and it bugs me! I know many folks love Christmas - don't get me wrong - I do as well (not the shopping part) but there's something about Thanksgiving that I really love. I think perhaps it is the tradition of things. When I was younger and in high school the morning started off early heading out to the football game. I was a cheerleader so I cheered my heart out rain, sleet, snow and sunshine. (Of course, I was always hoping for warmer days as it was cold wearing a skirt, turtleneck and sweater.) After the game, it was great to walk into the house filled with the smell of turkey cooking in the oven. As I got older, we mostly headed back to Mom and Dad's house no matter where we were living. And it was always the same, the same smell of turkey when you walked in the door, black and green olives, sweet mix of pickles, celery with cream cheese and walnuts to munch on while we waited for dinner. I'd set the table, if it wasn't done the night before, help Mom with whatever she needed help with and wait....wait for the potatoes, squash, carrots and turnips mashed together, peas, rolls, stuffing and the turkey. Oh, yummy! We'd sit around the table and eat until we could eat no more. We'd chat, laugh, eat, drink (ok, sometimes fight - it's wasn't always roses) and just be together. After dinner, sometimes we would go for a walk in the woods, help Mom with dishes, play games, sing songs and then eat some more...have to have dessert! Mince pie, pecan pie and pumpkin pie were always on the table. Plus, there was always a chocolate dessert for Jenn, she doesn't like pie! Today, it's still the same, same smell of turkey in the oven (only now at our house), same food from the olives to the stuffing to the mince pie and mostly the same people. I know it's alot of work (some will complain) for such a short time at the dinner table but it's still my favorite holiday because it is the tradition that I love, always the same food and always together with people that I love.

So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I am thankful that Jenn, Tim, Bear and (baby in Jenn's belly to be named in Mar/Apr '09) will be here with us celebrating together. I am thankful for my one-in-a-billion husband, Tony. I am thankful that our family and friends are healthy, have jobs and a home to live in. I am thankful for the country that I live in and know things will get better. I am thankful for the wonderful clients I have photographed this year as they were such a joy to work with. I am thankful that I get to work at a job I love while meeting so many great folks and the opportunity to create meaningful one and only moments in portraits for their families. I am thankful that I still have both of my parents in my life to share my days with. I am thankful for the wonderful friends, both old (not in age, but in time!) and new. At some point in life you think you're too old to make new friends, but I am truly lucky that I have made some fabulous friendships the older I've gotten. And, I am thankful for so much more than I could ever put into words.

Happy Thanksgiving, dear people - enjoy your day.

Would love to hear what you are thankful for, if you'd like, please share your thoughts.