November is traditionally a time of counting blessings. Many families have longstanding traditions for the Thanksgiving holiday that include travelling to be together, cooking special foods, watching football on television or in person, playing board games, or putting up their Christmas tree.
My Thanksgiving holidays have not followed a traditional path. While I do have many treasured memories of spending Thanksgiving with family members, I have also spent numerous Thanksgivings as the guest of kind friends who have invited me to celebrate with them. For about 17 years, my kids spent Thanksgivings with their father. With no other family in town, that left me on my own for the holiday.
Thanksgiving truly has been a feast for me, not only food-wise, but also a feast of generosity and caring. I have been abundantly blessed.
To everyone who has invited me to spend this special day with them and to those who came to spend the day with me, I am truly grateful for you. For those of you who fed me, I have memories of delicious food and wonderful company. A few times I spent the day alone, but this was by preference when I needed a day of solitude. I always had invitations to spend the day with others, which was a tremendous comfort during difficult times. Even when I chose to spend the day alone, just knowing I had friends who cared enough to invite me for dinner made me thankful.
In loose chronological order, here are some special Thanksgiving memories I recall.
Grandma & Papa and extended family in Dallas
Mattie & Granddad in Mesquite
Kaye & Dan and extended family in Dallas
Mom and our family in McAllen
Jim, Geri & family and Daddy in Michigan
Shawn and her family in McAllen
Jill, her parents & extended family in Pharr
Hewlett-Packard friends in Houston
Howard’s family in Houston
Mike’s family in Houston
Ward’s family in Conroe
Pete & Chris and their family in California
Missy in California
Holly & her family in Boerne
Sarah & her family in Flour Bluff
Cathy & her family in Mont Belvieu
Jackie in New Braunfels
Pat and her family in San Antonio
KJ & her family in San Antonio
Taylor and Ward in Fort Worth
Walker in Austin
Ward and the kids in Boerne
Lee in San Antonio
November is a great time to reflect on all of the people I have shared Thanksgiving with. Life as a single, working mother with PTSD had its fair share of challenges. I am fortunate that my life, even during the most difficult times, has included literally hundreds of caring people. I’ll be thinking of every single one this Thanksgiving.