Thanksgiving was a blast this year as it is every year. My mother’s side of the family is fairly large. There are her siblings (her plus six), her parents, several cousins, my cousins and so on. On average there are about thirty people in attendance at the usual Thanksgiving. This year was an exception with a few last minute cancellations, but it was as fun as ever.

This year we all gathered at my uncle’s house in San Luis Obispo. The location rotates from year to year so as not to burden anyone with the horrendous task of putting on the great feast. The feast is almost always the same. There are two turkeys just to be sure there are plenty of leftovers. Stuffing is abundant and the gravy flows like wine (The wine flows heavily too.) Then there are all the usual sides; mash potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, green salad and the list go on.

We spent the day leading up to the big feast playing touch football and poker. After the meal we all gathered around a game of Risk and test one another’s ability to imbibe alcohol. We all got too drunk as usual and the game was brought to a quick and early halt around ten o’clock. Then it was back to the hotel to rest up for the long drive home.

I love my family and think the annual journey is well worth the inconvenience. Six, eight or even ten hours in the car is worth seeing my grandparents for what could possibly be the last time. They’re getting older and I should take advantage of every opportunity to spend time with them. This Thanksgiving I spent extra time listening to the stories and hugged them both extra hard when we said goodbye. Family is so very precious and I want them all to know how much they mean to me. We all should cherish our families no matter how seemingly wacky they are.

Comments:

The older I get I find myself listening extra good to all the stories being told too. You never know when you might not ever be able to hear those again. Sounds like you enjoyed your Thanksgiving very much.