A Thanksgiving Memory

Taking a moment to reflect on my 41-years of life, I remember fondly a Thanksgiving we celebrated in the 1980s at my Grandfathers' farm in Oregon. The weather was comfortably 35-40 degrees - nothing us Oregonians couldn't handle. My brother and I, as was typically the case, had matching jackets, hats and gloves and while we didn't look like Ralphie's little brother Randy wrapped up in The Christmas Story, we still were covered from head to toe by an ever-watching mother who wanted her boys to avoid getting too cold before the big feast. I can still hear her now reminding me, "Now don't you boys get dirty or wet - you hear me!" 

Disappearing into the trees that bordered the property, we never struggled finding imaginative ways to play - after all, we were finally free to get muddy, see animals, and if lucky catch a glimpse at the large barn owl that mesmerized us year after year. When we finished our adventures hours later and returned to the farm house we looked at one another and realized how completely contrary to my mother's advice we had strayed. No possible hose or rag could change the fact that we were soaked, grimy, and not ready for a proper holiday meal. My mother was the first to see us, the benign scolding followed (she was too loving to really get that mad:), and we eventually cleaned up as best we could before sitting down. My grandfather, normally a serious man with very little to say, smiled at me from across the table as he removed his hat. After finishing the meal, he made his way into the kitchen and created his own version of caramel popcorn. As he gave me a bowl, he looked at me through his antiquated glass frames and smiled once again while saying, "looks like you had a lot of fun today!" I think it was his way of endorsing our actions - maybe not - but it was his infrequent smile that I felt the most secure around. 

Years later, he is gone, and so are many others in my life - members of my family, friends and even colleagues from work that no longer are here for Thanksgiving. It is in remembering their influence in my life that I want to express my gratitude and I hope that on this special day of thanking others, we remember those from our past, those in our present, and those that have yet to enter our lives.

With this, we hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Jason P. Bliss