I got to thinking........
Thanksgivings were very often at my grandparents' house. All the aunts and uncles and grandkids. Sometimes Aunt E would have thanksgiving at her house, but not all the relatives came. But no matter where, the dinner was well attended and enough food for a garrison.
My first Thanksgiving away from home was miserable. I had moved to Los Angeles in June or July, had a job and lived in a rooming house. But no friends with homes who would invite me to share their joy. Didn't have enough money to go home to Idaho, but I did make a long-distance phone call. And blubbered.
By Christmastime I had a fairly serious boyfriend, but not serious enough to be invited to his parents' home for any celebration--or any reason, for that matter. But it was better by then. I'd gotten over the lonelies, and had presents from home to open.
But back to Thanksgiving.... I remember two in particular. In-laws, husband, 4 kids and a couple guests. That was the year I used the beautiful banquet sized tablecloth my mother-in-law had given me. We set up the table in the living room because it was large enough to accommodate everyone. Even though I had a "country kitchen," it still wasn't big enough. I did enjoy that.
I seldom cook a real meal for myself. It's boring. But I love cooking for company. But now, I don't have any room for a dining table.
The second Thanksgiving I remember was here in Sacramento (Carmichael, actually, but that's beside the point). There were 13 of us at the table. My sister and her daughter came from Tucson, which was wonderful. I have pictures of that day, and I surely do enjoy remembering friends and family around a table loaded with goodies.
Well, in-laws, husband, and one child have departed this life. One son has his own family in SoCal. The other son is somewhere, but not here. Sister will remain in Tucson, and her daughter is in Connecticut (wonder if she'll come home for the holiday?). Friend with whom I was sharing the apartment at the time of Thanksgiving #2 is off in the wilds, out of contact. His son is sharing a home with his mother and sister (and her baby). Another friend who was at the table is probably still around, but I have no idea where. Daughter now has her own home and two children, and is planning dinner at her place.
Daughter hasn't informed me yet, but I'm expecting a repeat of last year. She'll cook something in a kosher pot that she has put aside specifically for me, and she has dinnerware set aside specifically for me. And I'll probably go and nibble at the aperitifs and whatever veggies she cooks. It just occurred to me, as I sit here typing, that I can fix a salmon steak for myself and take it. For those of you who don't already know, I don't eat meat, including fowl.
Dang! it's tough being kosher in a non-kosher family.
My first Thanksgiving as a married woman was spent in Ada, Oklahoma. Husband was stationed at Ft Bliss. I don't recall that I cooked anything, and we probably had dinner at the O-Club.
So that's it for Memory Lane tonight.
Shalom