« Abercrombie… | Main | Three Approaches to a Crumbling Economy »
OT: What Are Your Plans for Thanksgiving?
By JLP | November 25, 2008
What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
We are staying local again this year and celebrating with my wife’s family.
This Thanksgiving will mark one year since my dad visited our house for the last time before he died. It was not a pleasant Thanksgiving. He had just found out that his cancer was back and had spread and I think he had pretty much given up the fight by then.
I remember one day while they were here over that Thanksgiving, we noticed that their Jeep had a flat tire. So, dad and I went out to take the tire off so that we could take in to get it fixed. Dad opened the back of the Jeep, pulled out his old wooden red toolbox and said, “You want dibs on this toolbox?”
I wanted to cry.
I knew then and there and he was giving up. A little over three months later he passed away. That was nearly nine months ago! The days do get easier but I still think about him a lot. I was lying in bed last night thinking about him. I still get teary-eyed thinking about him (heck, I’m teary-eyed now).
Anyway, I’m sure Thanksgiving in Kansas will be very different this year.
I have learned something through all of this: Be thankful for what you have because everything changes.
Topics: Miscellaneous | 16 Comments »
November 25th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Amen to that…I miss daddio and he always loved Thanksgiving. It sure doesn’t seem like it’s been 9 months..
November 25th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Sorry to hear about your dad. I haven’t lost a relative since my grandmother passed away…geez, over 20 years ago.
I’ll be spending this Thanksgiving with my mom in Spring (howdy neighbor!:-), and we’ll be trying something new: Pig-stuffed, pig-wrapped, pig.
http://www.tampabay.com/features/food/cooking/article863438.ece
It’s the new Turducken!
November 25th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Sleeping through it. *grins* It will be my first non-Thrive day in two months.
November 25th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Traveling about 500 miles (by air) each way for the 4 day weekend holiday to see family. And going to watch some football!
November 25th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Ugh, the holidays. It should be a time for relaxing, but for 4 days, we spend most of it on the road trying to please everyone. This year, about 600 total miles, and 3 different stops. You just get settled in one place, and it’s off to visit someone else.
It’s great to see family, but it comes at a cost.
November 25th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
To Jeremy. We played the “try to please everyone” game, too, for several years. Finally, we gave up and started inviting one family to _visit us_, and suddenly things got a lot more relaxing. Try announcing that strategy this year for next year, expecting some protests, but hold your ground.
November 25th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Thanks for the suggestion, Dave. That is actually what we will be doing next year since we have a baby on the way. Rather than do all of the traveling next holiday season, we’re going to try that route and just schedule times for the families to come visit us. It’s a year away, but I’m already looking forward to it. I’d much rather play host and cook and clean and all that stuff than spend it on the road!
November 25th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Dinner w/the folks and my sis’s family. We will supply the booze and the bird and an appetizer (my yummy spinach dip.) The rest is in “Grandma’s” capable hands. Yippee!!
I agree JLP, the day will come too quickly that the memories of the simple times w/my parents will be all that I have. I really should start spending more time w/them NOW!
Enjoy the time w/the M/FIL…
November 25th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Your story about the toolbox is very poignant. And in it, I also hear a man who was preparing for what was to come, and who felt a loving and open relationship with his son in which he felt comfortable talking about how he could pass along a belonging that would always remind you of him. That he could feel safe in talking with you… think of him this Thanksgiving, say a toast to him, and remember times you shared. The people we love deeply never stop being a part of our live, even after they have died…I am glad your father had a son who appreciated him so greatly…
November 25th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
I’m sorry you lost your dad.
We’re staying home, and I’m cooking this year. My husband has lost work days to the extent that he only works 3-3.5 days per week now, and unfortunately, he has Thanksgiving off. Or fortunately. Normally we like him to work it, for overtime, but now he doesn’t get enough hours for overtime anyway. We don’t care what day we feast, but we will feast this year, so all is not lost.
November 25th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Nothing for me but instead educating myself on truths regarding Thanksgiving.
Churchill said History is written by victors.
http://www.rense.com/general45/thanks2.htm
November 25th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
I got teary eye’d just reading your blog. I can remember seeing my husband’s great aunt a few years ago. I’d only met her once before, but she had terminal cancer and we both knew this was the last time we’d see her. That’s the only time I’ve ever known I was seeing a person for the last time. It was hard. It’s not like you can say “See you later” when you walk out the door.
Anyway I’ll be spending Thanksgiving having a tasty meal at the Peabody. That’s how my husband and I spent our first T-giving in Memphis before we had any friends that we could poach dinner from. Since we’re moving in December we decided that’s how we’d spend our last T-giving here, too.
November 26th, 2008 at 6:26 am
Awww JLP, this post made me tear up. Your dad was a good man and his memory will NEVER fade.
My family still mourns the loss of my grandmother. She was the matriarch, our ROCK. It’s been 5 years and every Thanksgiving is somewhat difficult without her.
Hang in there kiddo. Keep those memories close and keep making your dad proud.
November 26th, 2008 at 7:40 am
I’m so sorry about your loss, but I love that you write about your dad and how much you miss him. One thing I will add, since my mom’s dad died before I was born, tell lots of stories about your dad to your kids, and make sure your mom does as well if she wants to. It’ll mean a lot to them.
November 26th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I am doing Thanksgiving the old fashioned way. I’m inviting over my neighbors. Feed them. Then I am going to kill them and take their land.
November 26th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Joshua,
Nothing’s stopping you from giving all your stuff to a Native American if you feel that badly about what happened.