Giving Thanks

Yesterday, I had the best Thanksgiving meal ever and I'm not talking about the food (well, not entirely).

There is something special that happens when we have this holiday at my in-laws. I can't quite place my finger on it, but it's a combination of perfect food (how does my mother-in-law do it?!) and perfect conversation. I love that the dining room table is the center of the universe at this house and all who enter through the door are drawn to it to share a meal or story of the past or present.

A few years ago, we decided to rotate this holiday so that travel could be kept to a minimum and to give my mother-in-law a break. We hosted last year and my sister-in-law the year before. As fun and relaxing as those were, it is just not the same as being around Mom and Dad's table.

Dinner was ready by 1:00 and all 19 of us sat down to the traditional turkey, stuffing, greenbeans and lasagna and wine. Yes, in this house, lasagna is tradition. Relatives young and old gave thanks for being together and a hearty "salute" shared by all before we dug in.

The magic at this table seems to be that 10 conversations can happen at once and yet we are all part of one big discussion. To my left, my sister-in-law, who in the spring will be traveling with her family to Italy, was practicing her Italian with my father-in-law. They would confirm with my mother-in-law who was mid-way down and across the table if they were saying the words right. To my right, talk of relatives who have passed and how unsafe visits to the cemetery are these days. It seems lately, folks are getting accosted when relatives are visiting gravesites and muggings are on the rise. So much for resting in peace. Further down the table requests for a cranberry dish are made because rumor had it from another table spot that it was de-lish. More conversations of trips to Italy and the top 5 things to see, how big all the kids are getting and days gone by.

After dinner, desserts replace the main dishes. Some folks move into the living room to watch football, some move into the kitchen for clean up duty and others remain at the table to continue conversation. More relatives and cousins stop by and seats begin to fill again at the table. Stories last well into the evening.

What could we possibly talk about for hours on end? Everything and anything and it is wonderful.

I am so thankful that I am a part of this family and have shared this magic for close to 20 years.