Giving Thanks for Thanksgiving

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”Over the meadows and through the woods” I drove unimpeded to Tulsa to be with 2 of my daughters and their families on Thanksgiving morning. I am not sure why I never did this in previous years. I practically shared the road with the same 5 trucks and 4 cars for the entire 3 hours, starting in Wichita. The route, that I had seen on the news the day before was packed and slow moving due to road construction and infrastructure repair that our next President will be beefing up to to…I have to remind myself – just agree to disagree and vow not to speak to any of my friends or family that I realize “just don’t get me”. I am one of the few Democrats in the sea of Republicans and Libertarians that my “little mid west family” has become. I grew up in what was unquestionably the BLUE state of Rhode Island with very Democratic parents. On a side note – there is talk that my fair state of Rhode Island trends a bit purple these days, but I hold out hope that sanity will prevail and it will blue up a bit before the next election. To be clear, this was never a choice I had in my family. One of my Dad’s favorite stories, that he told while running for Democratic city council positions over the years was that I, as his youngest daughter (aged 6) turned to him in church one Sunday and asked, “Daddy, am I a Democrat or a Protestant?” to which my Dad beamed and said “Yes”. I digress. Back to last weeks holiday.

Once I arrived in Tulsa, I picked up a cup of Chai tea and headed to my youngest daughters to visit my youngest grandson on his own turf. They were coming to my oldest daughters in the afternoon for dinner, but that environment (2 parents, 3 tween age children AND 3 busy dogs) can sometimes be tricky when you are just 13 months old. I should have given Ezra more credit. Later that day he gladly played on the floor with all the “puppies”, as he says with the breathiest little voice you ever heard.

My oldest, Aubrae, and the son I never had, Chris, have once again purchased a different home and it has been tweaked by my talented daughter into a real show stopper. This child of mine has owned more houses and vehicles than I, combined with my parent have ever owned! We have told Chris that she just needs to become an interior designer, so they can use a clients funds and save him more moving days. As wonderful as the company on this day of Thanksgiving was, the end of the day was the best as far as I was concerned. One of my daughters old neighbors and friend came over for dessert.

As usual, struggling with heat regulation issues, I decided to throw a jacket and blanket on Ezra and went out to the back fence line to see the cows walking by for supper in the adjacent pasture. Before I knew it a “Kennedy Family” worthy football game broke out with a few of the adults and most of the kids. Then of course, my oldest granddaughters had to offer rides in the bucket pulled by the lawnmower.

There was lots of fun to be had and I thank my blessings to have been there for one day to share in a love rich environment.

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