Hello, all,
November is already here and and I feel like we just celebrated the 4th of July. Every year after the exciting bang of bright fireworks spreading across the sky in the summer heat plays out, I know that life is going to accelerate at a rapid pace. Before I know it we will be in a new season, watching the gorgeous display of nature in the changes of color in the fall leaves, cooler evenings, children wandering through the neighborhood excited about all the candy they will collect in their Halloween costumes and then my family gathered around the dining room table celebrating Thanksgiving.
As a child growing up in South Georgia, Thanksgiving was a big deal as I am from a large family with a multitude of grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, a brother, my mom and dad. My mom had me at 20. When I was born I was the first grandchild on both sides and my grandparents were in their early 40's, great grandparents in their late 50's/early 60's. I thought that was normal until I got older and realized that this is not the reality most people grow up with.
We would celebrate multiple Thanksgivings beginning around noon at my parents house or maternal grandparents house and then onto our second Thanksgiving at my paternal grandparent's house later in the day. Since my mom's parents were farmers and my dad's parents owned a grocery store we had a wide variety of dishes set up on a long table, spread out on the kitchen island and countertops wherever a horizontal space presented itself. As a child it was so exciting to have free range of all of the delicious food and a variety of at least 4-5 meats, a huge amount of vegetable dishes, dressing, cranberry sauce, biscuits, yeast rolls and about 5 homemade desserts. I have to wonder how they prepared so much food with one oven, no microwave and a 4 burner stove. We would eat, listen to the older folks tell stories, play card and board games, throw the football outside and then eat some more. It was always a fun day that I looked forward to.
Soon, Thanksgiving will be here again. At my house, we have a tradition of each person stating something they are grateful for before enjoying our meal. Now my mom and mother in law come to my house along with whichever one of our children and their spouse, fiancés or boyfriend can make it. With Covid 19 this Thanksgiving may be different in that we may not have as many family members here to celebrate in person with us and it may take multiple facetime sessions or we will all zoom to connect but the one thing that will remain the same is how blessed I am to have a family that I love, a career that provides well for us that I truly enjoy and look forward to each day and living in this country with the freedom that we have.
At this time I would like to thank you all for being my valued clients and to let you know that I am grateful for each of you. May this Thanksgiving bring love to your heart, joy to your life and a sense of gratefulness and connection to all.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Charles