When I think of Thanksgiving, I think of myself as a young boy, watching the Thanksgiving parade on television; mom busy in the kitchen preparing our Thanksgiving dinner and the feeling of love all around. I remember a gray, cold and cloudy day; the steamy windows that cooking made and snowflakes in the air. This was my best Thanksgiving ever. I was 9 years old. It would become the Thanksgiving Day to which all other Thanksgiving Days would be compared. It was also to be my mom’s last Thanksgiving, although none of us knew it then.
In my memory I can see my dad in his chair, reading the newspaper, my sister, all of seven years old, helping mom in the kitchen, and me in my innocence, unaware of what precious memories were unfolding. And as I remembered that Thanksgiving Day, I felt the warmth of the love that only family can provide. Life was so simple then. My entire world consisted of a very small house, on a very quiet street, in a very peaceful little town on the shores of Lake Erie. It was all I needed then; everything perfect in that little house on Thanksgiving Day, now so long ago and so far away.
One year later my world would be turned upside down and it would never quite be the same again. Mom died just a few days before Thanksgiving the very next year.
Those memories are decades old now. Yet, I compare every Thanksgiving to that magical and perfect one. It’s funny how some events in your life make an indelible mark on your memory that doesn’t fade no matter how much time passes. And, it’s always the things that do not seem so important when you’re experiencing them that often turn out to be the ones you remember most. It seems to me that the most precious memories are not planned, they just happen.
I’m not sure I will ever have a Thanksgiving like that one again. Maybe because that day has been honed in my memory so long it seems better now that it actually was. But, I’m thankful that I have that memory because I can relive that special Thanksgiving every year. I can feel the love and the warmth. Although, it is said that you cannot bring back what is gone, I disagree: It comes again each year at this time and I feel the warmth and love of that memory. It is one of the things that I am most thankful for. I hope that my children will look back someday and feel the same about a day that I have given them. Special moments happen; you cannot plan them.
I bet most of you have memories like mine. That ever-so-slight pause in “the now” that allows you to drift back to a time long ago when the world was a little quieter, life a little simpler, and everything a little more innocent and perfect. Allow yourself to experience the evanescent yet wonderful pleasure of it. I think that the Holiday Season is the best time for reliving the most precious memories and for making new ones.
In today’s world where a person’s worth is apparently measured by his or her wealth, not one of the things for which I am most thankful is material. It is not the cars, houses, boats, stocks, bonds, computers, in fact it is not the “things” I have at all. The truth is: It is those fleeting moments, those fragments of dreams, those passing glimmers of hope, the lasting love of family and friends and those priceless golden memories that are my most precious treasures.
It seems to me so very strange that we spend most of our lives in pursuit of “things”. Indeed, we work most of our lives to acquire them. We spend time away from our loved ones working, making ends meet, and seeking to achieve some glorious financial success however elusive it may be. It is ironic that wealth cannot buy a single one of the most valuable things. And, how terribly sad that some never learn that simple, elegant and lasting truth.
Anyone can accumulate “things”, but until and unless you have acquired the real treasures in life, the love of family, friends, and beautiful memories of special moments, you really have nothing at all.
This Thanksgiving be thankful for the things that you do have and be most thankful for the things which money cannot buy, for they are the most valuable “things” of all.
We hope all of you make many beautiful new memories this year. Remember that the most special memories will be the ones that were not planned. We wish you all a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving.
I loved your memory of that poignant Thanksgiving. Beautifully written, as usual.
I was in college and missed my mother’s last Thanksgiving, busy preparing my very first turkey for my roommates just the way she taught me over the years. She died a week later. But she lives on: I’m still doing her slow-roast turkey with all her trimmings. It remains my all-time favorite holiday.
Hope yours is as wonderful as mine is going to be!
Melanie
Ah! the everlasting memory of things that were so good . I think what made it so special was there was no worry or thinking of bad things that could happen and do . but the life at that age is so impressive and so easily changed that it is the most wonderful time of life , not to say the rest of your life will be bad . Those special moments can come alive again if only you let them but the times are different to be sure, focus on today as yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not here yet . We all have more special moments coming our way and no need to look for them they will come. Life is what happens to you and may all the happenings be good ones to all. Have a great Thanks Giving all.
Thank you for sharing those great memories!
This is also my favorite holiday. Christmas is way too commercial now. Family and friends ar the table make the best memories.
You come off as very tough at times so I love it when you show the soft side, this one was excellent.
A real tear jerker. Yes, it is not “things” that remain in our memories forever, but
the Loving memories of families getting together, sharing our love for each other and hanging on to make great memories for our “Memory box” that you can go back to over and over that no one can ever take away from you.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!
Make special memories within your family and friends!
Nothing can beat memories. They are the best things in life. The memories of my childhood are the best. I had a Dad, a Mom who stayed home and a sister. We, too, lived in a small house, didn’t have lots of material “things” but the love was there. I think I had the best childhood there could be. Things were safer then, quieter, slower, and I was innocent of the goings on in the world. My little world was perfect then. Oh how things change and not always for the better. Thanks for this time to bring back memories, I loved reading about yours.
Thank you for Sharing.
Have a great, happy and healthy Thanksgiving
Avey
Thank you for this Rant. I live in Australia but because I have family in America, and because we are going through a very unhappy and traumatic time at the moment, we have decided to celebrate Thanksgiving Day over here for the first time, to accentuate and remember all the things we should be thankful for in spite of our troubles. I have experienced a number of Thanksgiving Days with family members in America and because someone always stood up and said a few words before we ate, I have been wondering what I could say at our Thanksgiving. I think I will read your Rant to them because it expresses exactly what I want to say about appreciating all those things that money can’t buy. So…your words are another thing I shall be thankful for, and be assured, they WILL make a difference. I shall be remembering you on Thanksgiving Day too.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rant
Sorry! The rest of my reply escaped somehow as I sent the above. When I hear or read the word ‘rant’, I imediately remember shouting and anger in my childhood home. There was a lot of it. Physical violence as well’. The phrase ‘ranting and raving’ describes more times in my home, than the phrase ‘kindness and caring’ does.
I meant to add the following to my reply:…. I think I would have done exactly what you did. TC is a wonderful writer, and certainly has a very caring heart. His essay says it all!
Greetings: Happy Thanksgiving to you and all my American friends! A beautiful essay indeed and one I can relate to. We had our Thanksgiving in October. I too remember all the Thanksgivings as a child which were similar to yours. We spent our Thanksgiving at our daughters this year in her new home several miles away but I thought about my other two children spending Thanksgiving without us present. Granted they have families of their own and want to “make their own memories” which I respect but I felt nostalgia settling in that we weren’t all together under one roof like when they were young and all living at home. I guess I’ll have to get over that feeling as change does come as you age and the years ahead will be different but the closeness and togetherness of those earlier years are the best and will always be in my memories. God bless!
Well youngster you got the old memories flowing and a tear or two also. I lost my dad when i was 6 years old so i don’t remember to much about him but i sure remember those years with my dear sweet little short Mama growing up. Now i’m 73 now so my precious mom has been gone almost 30 years, a long time and the thing that comes to my mind when reading your story is i sure would like to give her one more big old hug today but i know without a doubt she is happy in heaven now. Now i’m building some memories with my family. I have been married to the precious lady that God gave to me for 53 years so without a doubt i got the right rib that i was suppose to get and now we have become one just like the bible says. Its got to the point that she gets a headache i take the aspirin. Now with all the technology that we have today the memories that a lot of people will make is remembering a certain text that they got from someone on Thanksgiving . Someone said that the world was set back a lot of years when they done away with the front porch and i tend to agree. So to all my fellow CloudEight friends out there i hope God blesses you and yours in a special way and have a Happy Thanksgiving.
A tear came to my eye also, reading your message. I especially loved…’she gets a headache I take the aspirin’. God Bless you both. I am 76, and have been married to my guy for 56 of those years.
I remember all of my childhood Thanksgiving holidays much the same with grey, cloudy skies, Mom in the kitchen preparing our feast, older brother out delivering newspapers and me going off to the rival high school football games with pom-poms in hand. I couldn’t wait to be in high school myself and participate in the excitement for real. Each of the 50 or so years down the road and we were all still gathering to share this wonderful day and dinner together. Four years ago we lost my little sister making the holidays in general a little difficult to get through. My Mom who is 85 and my Dad who is 89 live with me now. I took over the cooking about 25 years ago and the family gathers in my home for the holidays. Thanksgiving was always the more special as family sharing goes since Christmas is always hustle and bustle. Thanksgiving give us the opportunity to spend quality time together and reflect on all things past, present and future. The last 5 years has seen the family breaking off to dine elsewhere and this year is no different. I wonder that anyone would not want to be with my parents on this day. Can’t they understand that this could be the last year to be so blessed? I just don’t get it since having the ability to share with Mom and Dad should be one of the top reasons they have to be thankful. At least 15 of us are still going to join together and give thanks for the things that matter most. Happy Thanksgiving to you and enjoy this special day with people you love.
I have been married for 53 years. The best part is being together with our children and friends. I enjoy the holidays but Thanks giving is one of best. I love to tell the stories of past when we were all together. I know again this year we will enjoy the holidays with our family and friends. Your writings have brought up a lot of memories of the past. So I wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving. God Bless