Looking For Calm

I woke early this morning as I always do and after having a cup of strong coffee got down to business. Thanksgiving day is my most favorite one of the entire year. I love it because I adore turkey, stuffing, cranberry jelly, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash (yes, there is not one single green vegetable on that list). I appreciate even more the evening open face turkey sandwich (post afternoon nap)with all of the above mentioned.

But the day means so much more to me because it serves as a reminder of the love I share with my family and friends. My dad was always up early, especially on Thanksgiving morning because he had to get started on the stuffing and there was a good deal of chopping to do. Onions, celery, Arnold white bread- my dad never minded cutting onions that early in the morning and the rest of us would cry our way through the job. I recall coming downstairs to help him chop. There was a system, and we did not divert. We melted butter slowly into a pan with warm milk. We cut the slices, crusts were separated out from the non crusts and soaked with the milk and butter. We chopped and mixed everything together in a big pot and added the most important ingredient of all- the Bell’s seasoning. To this day there are at least three boxes of Bell’s in our cabinet. My mom feels that you can never have enough. The stuffing recipe was my grandmother’s. We spent many Thanksgivings growing up cutting and chopping alongside she and my dad. It did not matter the kitchen. We always made enough stuffing for an army it seemed. At different points throughout the day, one of us could be found unwrapping the foil over the turkey in the oven, sticking a teaspoon inside and “tasting” the stuffing well ahead of when it would be ready. No wonder the turkey took so long to cook! I can hardly wait for one of those spoonfuls.

So it seems fitting that I am awake and making the stuffing to go inside the bird. It is a little ironic that my husband and daughter are really not very interested in turkey and the fixings. But they appreciate the history too, the stories I tell, and the memories we share of my parents and Thanksgiving.

My mom is a master at setting the table and it always looks so beautiful with simple flowers in small vases, freshly ironed linen napkins, a crisp tablecloth that was her mothers, candles, place cards, a gravy boat, polished silver that we use only on holidays and a whole lot of love.

I still have not quite gotten used to not having my dad here with us on Thanksgiving. I feel his presence though no matter the house we are in or the configuration of people assembled. The memories of this day are palpable and the love we share as a family. I am thankful to be with my mom, Brooks, Jamie, Caroline, Deja and Gracie (our golden retrievers) in Chatham today. I wish my brother and his family were here with us. I am grateful for good health, the love of friends, a warm home, a job that I adore, an abundance of food and the gift of God’s love in my life. I am mindful that so so many people in our country and our world are struggling. My prayer on this day and each day forward is that we all continue to reach out in peace and with love to those we know and to the many we do not. May we find compassion for ourselves and share this compassion with the world. There is a loving kindness practice that I often do and share with the children I teach and the adults with whom I work.

May I be courageous and strong

May I be free from inner and outer harm

May I be healthy

May I know peace