Thanksgiving is about gratitude for all the wonderful things in our lives -- family, friends, food. It is so wonderful to have enough of these things to be able to celebrate, to hold a feast, a potlatch, a ceremony of eating and drinking, and enjoy this abundance. At this time of year many of us also donate food to others whose feast tables may not be quite as full. I know I never give enough, but what enough would be, I never know. I can only hope that everyone will have a full belly at the end of a day spent with people they love. If you don't, email me, and we will try to find you a space at our table.
This year, we will have my mother and three friends over for the big meal. I am so excited to be able to host it in my own home. That doesn't happen very often, and there is something so satisfying about cooking for hours and having people over to enjoy it, especially on Thanksgiving. This is a day when I, at least, am overwhelmed with gratitude for the abundance in my life (so much so, that I usually end up eating about three times more than my stomach can hold, and then lying around groaning for the next few hours, until enough space opens up to start picking at the leftovers.)
As always, enough is too much, or at least too much for my little brain to handle. Stop eating when you're full. Duh. Nope, not smart enough to do that. At least, as a non-sugar-eater I get some break from dessert -- but no, wait, there's my wonderful no-sugar apple pie*. I think I will still be lying on the couch for a while.
Just before Thanksgiving this year, I turned 46. This occurred after having been 45 for what felt like 10 years. That was one long year. I am grateful, though, to have had these years, and all the ones before, with all of my parts still working. Even if my hair no longer produces color without liberal application of L'Oreal Preference and even if my joints are all silted up, I am here. The world from my window is white with snow. I went sledding with two wonderful children today. We screamed as we flew down the hill, faces being slammed with frozen powder as we went. It was awesome. I am thankful for snow and for sledding and for 10-year-olds who carry their own sleds back up the hill. I am grateful for the fuzzy grey cat stretched out in a half-moon on the floor in front of me. I am grateful that my drive to Burlington in the soggy snow last night did not end up with our car on its side in the ditch, and I offer my best wishes to those whose did.
I am grateful for my "precious human birth", as Pema Chodron calls it, and for the preciousness of the humans around me this year -- Cedar, Bruce, my mom, my good friends. I am so blessed; the turkey should be just an afterthought... but it won't be! I wait all year for this meal! It will be good, and with any luck, it will be enough.
*Whenever I've written anything about one of my recipes, people always want it, so here is the very scientific one for no-sugar apple pie. Make a double crust, with butter, not that scary Crisco stuff. Fill a large bowl with peeled, cored and sliced Cortland apples (they make the best pies). Throw in some cinnamon, a hint of nutmeg, some lemon juice, some butter, and some flour. Mix it all up and pack it into the shell, making sure it mounds up high. Put on the top crust, pinch it on well, cut a few slits to let the steam out and bake it around 400 for as long as it takes to start bubbling out the slits. Pretty easy, and especially yummy with plain whipped cream (just put in a dash of vanilla).
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