It has always been a longstanding tradition in my family that my mother's side of the family would get together for Thanksgiving. That tradition has been kept by my sisters and I for a long time and only once in a while has it been altered. This year will be one of those rare times we are not gathering together due to some unexpected (but good) circumstances. So, Jeff and I will be spending the day with fellow 365er Laraine and her family!
So here's the story of the collage:
While I was growing up, my family would travel to Brielle, NJ where my mother's parents lived. "Aunt Peggy", my grandmother (don't know the story as to why, I just know that's what I called her), set a beautiful and elegant Thanksgiving table for the grown-ups. She's the lady who has her head turned towards the camera on the left side of the table. The younger ones (which included me) sat at a card table (designated "the kid's table") just beyond the grown-ups. In spite of my mother and my aunt's protests for many years the kids had all the finery of the adults- china, crystal and silver- UNTIL the year my cousin Rick decided to crawl under the card table and tickle his cousins' and sister's legs. You can imagine what happened! And from that time on, we had regular dishes.
After my grandfather passed away, my mother and her brother switched off hosting Thanksgiving. The center shot is one of those gatherings in Ridgewood, NJ at my uncle's home.
The third shot is of my sister (on the right) and my cousin Carole (the smile on the left) and my cousin Rick with a crepe paper turkey on his head. This decoration was always at the center of the kid's table. We still laugh about it today (all the elegant finery and a silly crepe paper turkey!) and remember the frenetic scene of crystal, silverware and china flying everywhere when Rick overturned the table while tickling us!
I really have to chuckle while looking at these photos. I took all three of them- probably between the ages of 7 and 9. Thankfully my photographic skills have improved since then. I no longer cut people's heads off (unless I want to!), I know how to hold the camera straight and I include all family members in my group shots (apparently I completely cut out Rick in the center shot although I wrote his name on the back of the picture!). They really bring back some fun memories. My uncle, my aunt and my mother have all passed away. And "Pandy", my grandparent's home in Brielle, belongs to a new family now. But the memories and family ties are just as strong as ever, like the solid and deep roots of an oak tree.
I'm posting this a day early and wishing all my US 365 friends a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!
This is Great Ann! And it sound alot like our Thanksgiving Traditions !! Wonderful Memories! My Family is so torn apart this year ...i can just hope that we will all be back together again Someday...Happy Thanksgiving and Blessing's to you and your family also! :)
I think tradition is so important today, for it keeps alive family memories, and it builds stronger bonds. As our family changes through the years, it can be challenging to keep it all going, but it is so worth the effort it takes to keep it all alive.
Wow, what a walk down memory lane, Ann. I enjoyed your story, thinking of the days when, after us - 5 children had got married - we all used to be invited for lunch with all our children at my mum's house and everybody screamed just to be heard.
@ellimae Thank you Ellen! I know it's going to be hard for you with all that's going on with your family. The best you can do is concentrate on the positive aspects of the family you do have (those wonderful grandchildren come to mind!) and hope and pray the rest will improve soon. @digitalrn Thanks Rick- you are absolutely right. It does get harder but it's worth it to work at it. @bkbinthecity Thanks Brian! @chrismarfil Thank you Chris! @sangwann Thank you Dione! I can picture that scene in my mind- it might be noisy, but I'm sure it's joyful!
I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving. This is a great photo collage! Even then you were a photographer! You did well back then too! What nice fond memories you have. Reading that made me smile. Thank you for that. Well done, Ann! :)
Lovely collage of your old family traditions. Those times were always so special. How nice to get together with a fellow 365er this year. My children and grandchildren were here & unfortunately too much excitement for me to take any photos, but Hubby did do a little video with his smartphone. Hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving!
@digitalrn Thanks Rick- you are absolutely right. It does get harder but it's worth it to work at it.
@bkbinthecity Thanks Brian!
@chrismarfil Thank you Chris!
@sangwann Thank you Dione! I can picture that scene in my mind- it might be noisy, but I'm sure it's joyful!
Thank you Phil, Andy and Diane! Diane- I grew up in Caldwell- not too far from Summit!
Thank you Dixie!
Thanks Alia!
Thank you Maggie, Damon, Bev, Carole, and Ana!