We Gather Together

November 27th, 2008

The Noble Tigger

My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving.

First of all, I am extremely thankful for all I have in life. The best family a person could ask for and when I say family I mean everyone up and down the line. My wife is my best friend. I have the greatest children a father could ask for and I came from a great family; two terrific parents and three wonderful and funny brothers. The family I inherited when I married my wife is just as fantastic in their own way and when I really stop and think about them, as I am today, I can hardly believe my good fortune. So I got that going for me, which is nice.

Secondly, I have a roof over my head and plenty to eat. I pray that this situation will remain the same but I never want to take it for granted. Things are getting rougher out there and if we have shelter and food we should be grateful. We should also be looking around us and doing what we can for those who are not as fortunate. This is no time to be particularly judgmental. Lend a hand when you can.

The third thing that I am lucky to have in my life is friends. There are folks back east who I miss a lot and there are new friends I’ve made here on the west coast. I won’t call you all out by name but I certainly hope you know who you are. I love you all.

Thanksgiving used to be a time when we tried to really roll out the red carpet and bring a crowd into our house. We were fortunate enough to live in a large home and I used to love to roast a twenty pound bird and make all the fixin’s for a large feast. We had a group of regulars who usually attended these get-togethers as well as a few new people every year. I planned for it weeks in advance and, with the help of my wife, I baked pies, bought wine and just stocked the pantry to its fullest. It was a joy to get together and laugh and tell stories and share what we had been blessed to have. My whole family has great memories of those events and some of the folks who came still call and ask what time they should come over. Since most of them would have to travel three thousand miles or so, I usually tell them to leave early so they don’t miss out on the mashed potatoes. They always seemed to go first.

Some years we had folks in who I knew did not have anywhere else to go. Some years we invited people who were new to the town and just meeting people and we always had friends and family who if they could not come for the meal, would at least stop for a drink or a piece of pie. The important thing was to make contact with friends and family old and new because that is what it’s all about. Oh, and I almost forgot the one other thing I love about Thanksgiving. NO GIFTS. At least there is no pressure to bring or worry about whether or not we should expect a gift or be expected to provide one. That is the thing about Christmas, which is a great holiday in its own right that can make things awkward.

One night last week we were invited to join the friends we have next door to us for dinner. Sara and Tim are our closest and best neighbors here in the great Northwest and we love to get together when we can and share some food and laughs. Shortly after we moved in last year, Sara brought us a pan of sweet rolls and we have been exchanging food ever since. We love them dearly.

The Feast

On this particular evening Sara had made this fantastic vegetarian lasagna. She also provided salad and some wonderful bread with goat cheese. We brought a couple of bottles of wine and we sat and ate and laughed and drank and most of all smiled the whole evening. It was nothing really fancy or elaborate because we are good enough friends that we don’t worry about whether or not everything is perfect or if the kitchen is immaculate. We get together because we like each other’s company and we try to do things for each other because we appreciate having friends that are just across the driveway.

Sara and Tim have three large cats who have taken some time in getting to know us. Most cats need to check you out before they commit to letting you touch them and I think that is a good thing but after a year, they are warming up to us and we treat them like grandchildren. So we get to enjoy the fun things with cats but not have any of the responsibility. Pretty cool.

This year we were invited to a couple of Thanksgiving get-togethers and we have declined all of the invitations. We want to just hang out in our own space and enjoy our own company. It’s not that we don’t appreciate all the friendships or that we are getting antisocial in our old age; it’s just that sometimes you want to have some quiet time. We are still grateful for all we have and we are well aware that we have plenty. Plenty of food and heat. Plenty of friends who we love dearly and plenty of family to help when we can is a blessing. Life is good.

Oh, and our dinner this year will be the traditional non-traditional meal that we have had only a couple of Thanksgivings since we got married. We will dine on pierogies, coleslaw and sausage washed down with delightful Belgian farmhouse ale. I still love turkey of course but a little change now and then does a soul good. May your holidays be joyful and don’t forget to give to someone other than yourself once in awhile. God bless you all.

Great Neighbors

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