I got up at 8 a.m. and decided it was too early, so I went back to bed and slept for another hour. That's when the weird dreams come. Something about a stray cat that looked like a mixture of several wild species. Cute, though.
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was a real disappointment. Our local NBC station is having trouble with the audio portion of their high-definition broadcast (we've complained but they say they've ordered a part that needs to come in before it can be fixed--that was weeks ago). So we watched it on "regular" tv, but to be honest, it gets boring watching snippets of Broadway plays. The many marching bands never sound right--wherever the microphone is, that's the instrument you hear. All the big-name singers were clearly lip-synching, if the word "sync" can also be used for out-of-sync sound/movement. The Rose Parade is so much better because floats are just more interesting than big balloons.
Then we showered and headed over on the nearly empty streets to our local Cracker Barrel for our Thanksgiving meal. It was crowded, even at 2 p.m., but we expected that. Apparently I'm not the only one who prefers to let someone else do the cooking. There were some large family groups there, but most groups were couples like the esteemed one and me. After a half-hour wait, we were seated and served by a remarkably cheerful woman. I got the traditional meal, but just to be different, I guess, the spouse got roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, and vegetables. We stuffed ourselves with our meals and even had pie for dessert (I got the sugar-free apple pie). It was all okay--maybe not as good as my mother-in-law's holiday meal (nothing is!) or even as good as I myself might have made, but there were no dishes to wash. We headed home for our after-feast siesta. That was interrupted by Simon staggering around the house harfing. Apparently he'd been chewing on one of the house plants while we were gone.
We haven't talked to anyone today. I'd like to call my family, but with the hours people work, it's hard to know when to call. Younger Son and wife are at her aunt's house today and perhaps this evening before heading to Older Son's house.
It snowed a bit overnight, just enough to look like powdered sugar. Most of it is gone now, but it's cold out and quite windy. Even the house is cold. It makes me sad. I should be grateful for all I have--a house that could be made warmer if I just turned up the thermostat, a good car that gets me to a restaurant, a credit card with which to pay for the meal, and a great man to share it all with. Even if my sons aren't here, I suspect that both of them have thought of us today. I know I've thought of them. I've also thought of the many people who have left us just this year, like my Aunt Susie. Each year sees the passing of someone I love, and when it happens, I know why people feel compelled to believe in life after death. The idea of never seeing that beloved person again--it's almost too much to bear.
To my reader(s): I hope your Thanksgiving was full of contentment, that it was more meaningful than just a big meal and a game of football. Be safe, be warm, be happy. And here in the great frozen north, I'll go turn up the heat. Dr. S.
No comments:
Post a Comment