Family Thanksgiving

[Carole’s message to family for Thanksgiving 2000)

FAMILY IS FOREVER

Even though we will not be together to celebrate this Thanksgiving, our hearts and prayers will be with you all. We have much to be thankful for. Let us bow our heads and thank God for our many blessings.

Think of all the wonderful Thanksgivings we have been blessed to enjoy. On Thanksgiving, one thing I always remember vividly is my Mother, in one of the countless aprons she made, leaning over the oven, basting the large family turkey, covered with cheesecloth that held the juices in while Dad peered over her shoulder, yum-yumming, thinking of the turkey leg he was sure to get and the big turkey sandwich that would follow. We'd all gather around inhaling the good smells, anxiously awaiting the best feasts I'd ever eaten.

Thanksgiving dinner was a time for Mom to get Grandma Ballard's flow blue china down from the top shelf of the kitchen cupboard and wash those precious dishes we used for special occasions, laying out her antique lace tablecloth, setting the table with our finest silverware, Mom's wedding candlesticks and freshly ironed cloth napkins folded delicately at each place. I would step aside and admire it until its beauty almost took my breath away.

Soon it was time to whip the cream for the pumpkin pie. Whipped cream was a luxery for our family. We lived in a small village where the local market only sold such luxeries for holidays or special occasions and it was expensive. But Mom would allow us this special treat to spoon over her delicious pumpkin pie, which happened to be the best pumpkin pie I've ever eaten.

But, best of all, it was time for our family to gather together. Grandma La Flamme would come from Detroit with Aunt Virginia and Uncle Martin and Bob, and sometimes Uncle Mart's sister, Aunt June and Uncle Del and Susan and Dutchie. Our dear friend, Father Paul, a Franciscan priest who assisted our parish priest, Father Bourget, at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Linwood, Michigan, was a regular guest on holidays as well as anyone else who had nowhere to go. Mom and Dad always had room for one more.

It was a day of love, togetherness and merriment ... days, I'm grateful we shared, days which were some of the best memories of my life. After dinner we would put on skits, play the piano, sing songs; Mom and Dad would harmonize singing Smile The While and When You Wore A Tulip and other romantic favorites; Dad and Aunt Ginny would play the ukelele ; with a bit of coaxing Mom could be teased into doing her rendition of Alouette, which was always a hit. Grandma La Flamme would play the spoons on her knees while we kids would wrap wax paper around combs and hum songs into them that made our lips tickle. Those were wonderful fun memorable times that I will always treasure. I wish you could have been there to remember as I do. But we will make new memories and in time, you will be remembering the old times just like I remember mine.

Okay, enough nostalgia. Just really wanted to tell you that we are thinking of each of you and that we will be missing you. We love you all.

Hugs and kisses galore. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Mom and Dad