My mother and my sister both passed away three months apart back in 2010. Their deaths were unrelated,\u00a0 but with both of them gone, our family holidays were basically blown up. My mother with all her cooking and holiday-drama was the center of the Thanksgiving and Christmas get-togethers. My sister who passed away, was the heir apparent. With both of them passed away, the center could not hold and the surviving family members spun out to find new traditions of their own.<\/p>\n
Thankfully, my mother-in-law was still alive and the plan was to drive to Vermont and take her and her friends out to Thanksgiving dinner. And I was thankful to be spending the day with my wonderful wife. But things had changed in the Green Mountain state too. The old farm house was gone and we wouldn\u2019t be staying over night in a bed-and -breakfast. My wife and I would drive up and back in a day because we both we\u2019re working the following Friday.<\/p>\n
Despite appearances,\u00a0I was feeling a bit sorry for myself as we headed to Vermont that morning.\u00a0 It was really foolish\u00a0to feel that way. Several friends had invited us over to their homes for Turkey-Day,\u00a0and in alternate years we had my mother-in-law\u00a0down to our place for Thanksgiving dinner. And I planned to cook a turkey breast over the weekend so I could have leftovers.<\/p>\n
Before we headed north, we stopped by a nearby church where friends were cooking dinner for people who had nowhere to go on Thanksgiving.\u00a0 The years when I’m in town I like to volunteer with them. My wife and I had a quick coffee and\u00a0chatted with our friends in the church hall before we headed to Vermont. The weather was beautiful and the\u00a0drive up with no traffic was nice and problem free.<\/p>\n
Three hours later we\u00a0met my mother-in-law\u00a0 and her friends at the restaurant.\u00a0We were thankful to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with them and the\u00a0restaurant had a pleasant view overlooking the Connecticut river.\u00a0 I was still feeling sorry for myself\u00a0so \u00a0I ordered a Middle-Eastern hummus plate with the excuse I wanted to eat something light before the drive back.\u00a0I told myself I’d eat turkey on the weekend.\u00a0\u00a0After the traditional desserts,\u00a0we\u00a0bid adieu to my mother-in-law\u00a0and her friends and headed home. It was a nice time.<\/p>\n
Hours later, in town\u00a0at a stop light, I realized I was being silly not having turkey on Thanksgiving day. I decided to stop by a convenience store deli\u00a0and get a quarter pound of turkey to keep my streak going.<\/p>\n
The deli was dark and shuttered as we pulled up. But across the street was the brightly lit church where my friends were serving Thanksgiving dinner for people who had no where to go. I looked at my watch and we still had time.<\/p>\n
My wife and I entered the church hall. We were immediately welcomed by our friends who were surprised we’d returned. \u00a0\u00a0I enjoyed a small plate of leftovers- turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy. It was wonderful. I felt like George Baily coming home to his friends and family.<\/p>\n
The only person missing was Zuzu!<\/p>\n
copyright 2017 Christopher Donahue<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My mother and my sister both passed away three months apart back in 2010. Their deaths were unrelated,\u00a0 but with both of them gone, our family holidays were basically blown up. My mother with all her cooking and holiday-drama was … Continue reading