Traditions

Family Traditions

The first Thanksgiving I can remember, when we are one of the toddlers, running underfoot in the kitchen and climbing up on the furniture and playing with cousins by the dozens and sneaking olives to stick on each fingertip and going crazy on the crowd and the steamy aromas filling the house.

Then we get old enough to help. A little, setting the table and pouring the drinks, minding the younger children. The games slow down as we learn board games and card games instead of jumping on the couch and hide and seek.

Then we go away from home and spend the first Thanksgiving making lame jokes about, "do you have any turkey pizza?" while eating in Pizza Hut and wishing we could transport ourselves home to the festivities we hear over the phone as it gets handed around. So then we make sure to get there, somehow for the holidays that follow.

There are always new people added in, and that is good, new spouses, new babies, new friends. But then some of the old faces disappear, divorces or deaths. And the helping becomes hosting and suddenly the whole party depends on you and your house and it is your college kids coming home to a different house, but still HOME

And the recipes have been handed down. Everything else is typed neatly, but the stained ones in Grandma's handwriting don't get switched out or updated. The pie plate that was the big sister's pride of her handmade stoneware set, now depends on you to fill it since she died on that hike in the Grand Canyon

and you realize, you are one of the grey haired, elders, keeping the tradition flowing, and that it was going on for centuries before you were born, and when you too, step out of this world, the family will still be Thankful you were in it once.

[Lydia]

lovely photo lovely story.

[Henri Russell]

Beautiful photo. I love the old, worn recipe. Great memories.

[Becca Hayes]

And amazingly, each stage is as wonderful as the last! I totally remember those little kid Thanksgivings at my parents' house, and the college-age "orphan Thanksgivings" where we had a pitch-in of whatever. But having the kids home from college in my house where I'm making the meal was wonderful this time.

Btw, I love that pie plate!!

[Mrs. Smith]

Beautiful story...and memories. I think it's difficult to grow old.

[carol white]

Great memories,and a lovely shot!!

[Laraine Kensicki]

i have recipes in my mother's writing that i've kept - may i have your permission to quote from your story, giving credit to you, of course?

[GPix]

Love the design on the plate and the ornate recipe page

[Dixie Goode]

@eniaral I love being quoted! Thanks.

[Carole Imes]

Always fun to remember the old times. Thanksgiving is such a very special holiday. Love your display featuring the old handwritten recipe. Nothing like home made pumpkin pie!

[Kathryn Marshall]

Lovely shot. Great story.

[Ann H. LeFevre]

Ah- I know this cycle well! Beautifully said Dixie!

[summerfield]

lovely essay, dixie. i love reading your perspectives in life. good for you for keeping those things that are 'time tested'. wonderful things to look back on and be thankful. i used to have a pie plate like that.