Thankful.

sure, that is an easy title for something to write about given Thanksgiving is this week.

to often we lose sight of this holiday. we think of the gluttony that will ensue for a few days. diets are placed on hold. televisions are put on extra duty, if we could watch 25hrs we would. football is consumed only slightly less than turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin cheesecake.

hey, my blog so my menu.

however, i truly find this holiday (and maybe all of them) is about family. it is a time to be grateful that these people are in your life. oh, and family is how ever you wish to define it. :)

and, sometimes it is about remembering those members of your family that have moved on.

last year, my grandmother passed away in october. she had lived a long life but finally decided that she ready to go. and, she was living out in california near my aunt. grandma was a person who never wanted to be a "bother" to anyone, especially her family. maybe, that is a family trait? :)

what does this have to do with thanksgiving? my mom decided that she wanted to put bury my grandmother's ashes with her family in buffalo. i was coming home for thanksgiving, so it was decided to have a small ceremony the day after thanksgiving. and, i am glad that happened. now, it will always remind me to think and remember how special my grandmother was to me.

pumpkin-head(l) and pauline(r) -1975

thanksgiving, now carries something more for me than it used to. and, it all came back to me when i heard about a friend's father passing away this past saturday. she will be coming back to buffalo for thanksgiving and the funeral. i expressed my very heart-felt condolences and really did have an idea of what she could be feeling. ( i say could because we all grieve in our own way)

but, i am sure she is grateful to be supporting and supported by her family. she must be remembering all of those wonderful times about her father.

so, i guess i will leave with you this. be grateful for the time you have with anyone, but especially with those that are truly important to you. squeeze every bit out of those experiences. and, really examine what you are truly thankful for.

God Bless All of your wonderful troops.

-pauline & pumpkin-head