Back when I was a wee lass and protected from the harsh reality of the world, Thanksgiving was different. Our mode of transportation was mostly on the back of an old plow horse or our two feet. Of course we rarely left Nickerson, but occasionally we did. The grandmas and aunts lived in Plevna which was 20 miles. But this one time I am remembering my dad had a son that lived in Hutchinson and invited us to Thanksgiving dinner. That was a 12 mile trip and central Kansas in the winter is nothing short of brutal. So, us kids were all a twitter for the upcoming adventure.
Since it had snowed the night before we awoke to a freezing cold landscape with a brilliant sun shining. Mom and dad figured it would take us about 3 hours to make the trip. We bundled up in our coats and scarves and prayed to the good Lord above to please, just keep us out of the ditch. Mother had heated rocks in a bundle to help keep us warm since the cars back then did not have heaters. We had wool army blankets to huddle under. And off we went.
We sailed down the highway at about 6 miles an hour. Of course we carried cans of water because the radiator leaked and we stopped regularly to add water to the radiator. We arrived at Earl's house before noon and we were so relieved to be there. His wife's name was Gertie. The house was heated by a "gravity flow heater". The heat was transferred to the house by means of an open grate in the floor. One of the boys (Leon I think) had crawled across the grate and been badly burned. Back in those days this was a fairly regular occurrence. He did carry the scars for as long as I knew him.
I do not recall the dinner, perse, but I know it was good and I know there was pie. And corn, mashed potatoes, gravy, turkey, dinner rolls and casseroles of something. We prayed over our dinner. We never ate a meal that was not prayed over by the men of the household. Well except at the grandma's because there were no men there. We used to pray about everything that affected us from the moment we got up until the prayers were said preparatory to bed. I kind of miss that. But back to the trip.
We had to leave as soon as the midday meal was over and the kitchen "redded up" in order to be home in time to do the nightly chores. So loaded with leftovers we began the trip back to our house. We knew if we waited too long the roads would "freeze up" and make driving hazardous. Every one of us had to make a last stop in the necessay room to avoid having to pee alongside the road where "God and everybody would see our bottom!"
Even back then at the tender age of 8 or nine, I loved my family. All of them. Even the ones I did not know. Looking back is always better because I have my selective memory and I was bound to my sisters and brothers with a blood line that would never change. Or so I thought. I have one sister left. We are not in touch any more. She is busy and I am in Colorado. It used to bother me, but not any more. I have friends who are closer then any blood could ever be. I have children that think I hung the moon! I just had my 80th Thanksgiving and there was no one there that carried my blood in their veins, but that does not matter. I was thankful for the meal and the comraderie and the 2 dogs that showed up later.
The trip up and the trip back was uneventful and with traffic like it is, uneventful is good! So this Thanksgiving I can give thanks for those that I love and those that love me. Thanks for friendships and kinships that make my world go around. And most of thank the universe for spinning and holding me to the earth, grounded in friendships, kinships and the tiny flowers that are going to sleep for the winter and will burst forth next Spring to thrill me with their beauty.
But most of all thank my God for surrounding me with the compassion of my friends and family who have accepted me as I am with all my faults and short comings. Thanks to God for giving me a clear mind and a strong back and an innate insight that lets me see people as they are and overlook their shortcomings.
Today is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Peace!
