Thanksgiving DAY may be over, but not the thankfulness

 

  It’s hard, the days after Thanksgiving, to say, feel or think, ‘OK, it’s over; time to move into Christmas mode.’

Nothing doing! Not yet. Not when your older son and family have driven/ flown up from Florida. And have invited you to share a condo at The Wharf in Hot Springs for the rest of the rainy week.

Four branches of the family remained in place until the weekend. Several condos were available, so that our sister—the one with the annual Thanksgiving week—scored other units for those of us who could stay and prolong the togetherness.

For the last few days of November––I’ve made a rule never to begin Christmas (except in my mind—oh, and unless I spot a perfect gift) until December 1––the pumpkins, gourds and leaves, fall tablecloths and runners stayed where they are. November was autumn’s time.

Besides, I want to keep the memories fresh of a more-blessed-than-usual holiday weekend-- one that lasted from Wednesday through Saturday.

Missing at Thanksgiving: A sibling from Virginia, one from California, one from Benton, one from Little Rock, a niece and grandniece from Portland, four nephews and their families—(in-laws?).

Unusual: The warm, sunny weather—all day—decrying a long-predicted, three-day rain event that was to begin Thursday afternoon. Then, rain was to begin early-morning hours Friday. Still no precip until mid-morning Friday––sporadic for a spell––then constant.

Unusual: Two folks in the family circle were newlyweds. Also, an eight-month-old joined his two-year-old brother.

Unusual: For the first time I took cranberry sauce and Mom’s Jell-O fruit salad.
 
Usual: A brother brought two large pans of “Mom’s-and-Aunt-Erma’s-yeast rolls.” They were to fight over. Though no one did.

Unusual: Duck dressing, compliments of a daughter.

 

Usual: Not enough deviled eggs to go around, since some took two the first go-round. NOTE TO SELF: Prepare two dozen eggs next year.

 

Usual: Kid Billy drove up from Arkadelphia, his home away from home, after work at Cracker Barrel. He went back that night, worked Friday, then returned to Hot Springs for another family eat-out at Jose’s.

Unusual: Yours truly—a non-TV-er—watched the Razorbacks beat the Mizzou Tigers, plus other football games. I still detest the repetitious, boring commercials. For the Florida son, a Mizzou graduate, it was . . . he didn’t say much.

Unusual: Driving home on Saturday in incessant rain, only to be slowed near Haskell while two lanes merged into one. Thank goodness, I was in the right lane from the start. Reason: a wreck; the tow truck had one loaded ready for . . . somewhere. After only 15 minutes, we were all back to freeway speed. Some drivers, including moi, drove slower, due to the weather. But some folks--presumably in a greater hurry than I--didn’t.

That isn’t all that was worth crowing about during the Thanksgiving weekend. But when this is posted, Gordon and family will be back in Florida--with my gifts added to their belongings. Billy will still be in Arkadelphia with enough money for December’s rent (thanks to generous tippers), and everyone else will be back in their homes.

 And tomorrow, I begin the countdown to Christmas.