I hope you had a very nice Thanksgiving.
Thursday night I found myself thinking about traditions. I think traditions are wonderful and I love to hear about what different families do and how those traditions came to be.
I guess I was thinking about traditions because this year seemed to be so different from our “traditional” Thanksgiving.
Over the years we have seen many changes. Some that were around our table are no longer with us. Then the children grew up, got married or moved out on their own. And for the last 11 years we’ve had to deal with three of the kids in the Navy. Some years there would be one or more of them out to sea or they might have duty and my daughter-in-law spent some time in Japan.
Once again this year we were all scattered. We have two in Virginia Beach. The three that now live in Texas went to visit the other set of grandparents in San Diego. My daughter and son-in-law that live in Acushnet rotate every year and this was the year to dine with the in-laws. Priscilla and I thought we would be having dinner just the two of us but we ended up getting invited to a meal prepared by my son’s girlfriend and we had a very nice day meeting her parents.
This year was totally different and I’ve learned over the years…. that’s okay! I used to be a stickler for tradition. “We’ve never done it that way before!” I guess I’ve mellowed over the years.
Times change. People pass. The children grow up.
It was a nice change this year to be a guest at someone else’s table. My wife, Priscilla, still spent some time cooking. Some traditions never change as she whipped up a batch of her Chex Mix and my mom’s fudge recipe. She, of course, wanted to help with the meal so we brought a couple of side dishes and an homemade apple pie with homemade vanilla ice cream. Yummy!
I guess what got me thinking about traditions and change was a picture I saw on Facebook.
The number of seats at the table may have changed, the menu may not be the same, you may not even be in the same house, but I like to think those special people were still a part of our day. They live on in our memories.
Someone once said, “The only constant in life is change.” I try not to fight it anymore. With change comes growth and new adventures.
Here’s to new traditions!
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