Wednesday, December 03, 2014

Thanksgiving Remembrance

Growing up in a large family fifty years ago, Thanksgiving was always a huge event in which relatives who may not see each other at any other time of year gathered.  Even today those memories still filter through. Ed has written a poem remembering those family Thanksgiving.  It is interesting to me to think about in what ways our perceptions were the same and how they were different.

Thanksgiving  Remembrance

We were ordinary people
Living in the dark secrets
Nobody talked about

A Catholic family
Seven kids
And innumerable 

Aunts
Uncles
Cousins

On Thanksgiving
The clan congregated
In our modest tract home

Filling
Every open space
With food

Appetizers
Chips
Dip made with Lipton soup

Celery
Carrots
Ranch Dip

The counter overflowing
With single and
Double crusted pies

Pumpkin
Mincemeat
Pecan

All the kids
Were sequestered
Out of the house

Until the feast
Was spread
In true Rockwell style

I don’t remember
If  grace was said
But these survivors

Of the Depression
Dust Bowl
And World War II

Had gratitude
In their DNA

I imagine
The short
Prayer

For health
And Strength
And daily food
We praise thy name O Lord

Would be a sincere
And accurate prayer
For these South Dakota transplants

Multiple tables were set
Children ate on card tables
Relegated

To share this feast
With a cousin
You did not like

Turkey
Ham
Stuffing

Mashed Potatoes
Candied Yams
Sweet Rolls

Green bean casserole
Corn
Brussels sprouts ( for the adults)

More food
Then we would see
In most months

As our family
Would receive
Bags of groceries

Left on the doorstep
So not to embarrass
For which we were grateful

After dinner
We were sagely
Obligated to wait

Until our normally
Shrunken bellies
Now stretched to capacity

Had room for dessert
Which when allowed
Was devoured with delight

This one day a year
When indulgence
Was not a sin

Tables were cleared
The adults sat down
To talk

Or engage
In a fractious game
Of Pinochle

While my brothers
And sisters
Emptied sink

After sink
Of dirty dishes
Until

They sparkled
Shiny
Returned to their place

The leftovers
Divided
And distributed

Like care packages
Which would be made
Into next week's dinners



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