11.24.12

Saturday, November 24th, 2012

It is the Saturday evening after Thanksgiving. The turkey feast with all the trimmings has been cooked, eaten and reworked into several variations over the past few days. There is not much left at this point and all of the bellies in our house are full. The parade has been watched. The Iron Bowl has been played. The dishes have been washed and put away for the hundredth time. It is the same song and dance of Thanksgivings from my entire life.

Thanksgiving is not the only time of the year to be filled with gratitude but it is a great reminder that we should always be appreciative of the many treasures in our lives. Despite all of my imperfections and shortcomings, my list of things to be thankful for has grown yet again. My family remains at the top of my list. Always has been. Always will be. That is closely followed by food, shelter, good health, friends, humor and feelings of self worth. Also making an appearance is the fact that I am not a shopper and I am not married to a shopper. In our house, Black Friday is a day meant for wearing sweat pants, watching movies, doing puzzles, eating leftovers, playing cards and spending time together. Perfection in my book! But I digress….

As the weekend nears its end and the rest of the holiday season quickly approaches, let us be continually reminded of the things in life that are truly important.

tradition…tradition…

Sunday, November 28th, 2010

This year in our normal fashion, the Donovan household watched Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving special and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It wouldn’t feel like Thanksgiving if we didn’t watch them.

It all begins with Charlie Brown’s The Great Pumpkin. We watch it faithfully around Halloween. I have seen it every year. As soon as the music begins I am whisked down Nostalgia Lane back to sitting in our little den watching it with my brothers as a child. I laugh at the same parts and am not bothered by the fact that I can recite the whole episode almost word for word.

After Halloween and Thanksgiving the traditions continue.  The tree…the lights…the music…the movies…the food…the time with family…the smells…the decorations…the eggnog…the presents…the sights…the holiday cards…the list is abundant.

This isn’t the first time I have talked about tradition and it probably won’t be the last. Some families don’t participate in any rituals and that is fine. For us, these observances are the things that shape our perceptions of the season. They personify a sentiment that we pass from our parents to our children. Our enjoyment of the family traditions is the glue that binds our family holiday experience.

Some of it can all get rather silly I know. But it brings out the child in me and in Robert. And makes our girls giddy with glee. That is the best tradition of all!

…giving thanks…

Sunday, November 28th, 2010

…family…delicious food…friends, both new and old…happy children…long walks…beautiful weather…visits from afar…

For these things and countless more, I am humbly thankful. What a wonderful way to start the holiday season…