Thanksgiving break is such a tease. In one fell swoop, the plane lands and our kids are home. The evidence is as clear as day. The trail begins at the front door as shoes, purses, keys, coats, sweaters, scarves, and empty Starbuck containers are sporadically deposited from one end of the house to the other. Former school friends arrive at all hours, noise and laughter fill the air, and the fridge is empty even though I just filled it up. Facebook again gleams from the computers, texting is rampant, college textbooks are strewn across makeshift desks, laundry is on overload, long, long hot showers take place as well as breakfasts at 1pm. Cars are absconded to pick up movies at Blockbuster, visit friends, and shop. To add to the mayhem, our family arrives with precious little ones in tow. Wii is on 24/7, snacks are nonstop, annual rituals of long walks return. All the kids pitch in and help move furniture, set the table, decorate, cook, and gather sticks for the bonfire. Big numbers gather around the Thanksgiving table and eat and chat for hours. Our young teenager has amassed amazing opinions about our economic plight and the younger set is well versed at delving out lists for Christmas. On Black Friday morning, leftovers, including pies and pumpkin cheesecake, are devoured for breakfast and lunch just before the family football game which was concocted and well executed (except for one broken shoulder but I won’t dwell on that). After another dinner extravaganza a family sleepover is enjoyed by all. Slumber comes easily to fourteen well fed happy bodies. What a great family portrait. It’s pure and utter chaos and I love it.
And then, they’ve vanished. As quickly as they arrived, they have returned to their lives and busy schedules. Except for the roar of football on TV, the swooshing of the washing machine, and tumbling of the dryer, that eerie lack of kids type silence is everywhere. Leftovers, dirty sheets, and mountains of used towels are just reminders of a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend gone too fast. I can hardly wait for Christmas break when all the chaos and mayhem returns, and shoes and purses, and coats and scarves are scattered in every direction. When Wii is going nonstop and noise and laughter resonates throughout the house and beyond. Yes, it’s the Thanksgiving tease: A quick reminder of how wonderful it is when our girls are home and to have family and dear friends fill every corner of the house. What a great reaffirmation of how much we enjoy being together and that the little things are really what life is all about. I’m counting the days ‘til we see you all again…..
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment