Giving Thanks

“If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.”

Carl Sagan

Yesterday, my friends and I made two regular sized pies and ten mini pies from scratch.

They smelled like home, holidays, family and togetherness. The heat in the kitchen from the oven being on all day was a comforting contrast to the chilled wind outside. We danced and sang along to classic songs from a list on Spotify as we double checked our recipes and ingredients and game plan for the next day. We snacked on roasted pumpkin seeds and we laughed while we baked.

Thanksgiving is my favorite of the holidays. The food and the family time is like happiness personified. It reminds me of the traditions of my own family as a kid. I grew up in a house where we always hosted, American football would play in the background and at least one or two card games would happen. We’d have Thanksgiving lunch and then eat leftovers all day long. There would be hot open faced turkey sandwiches the next day, my favorite of the holiday leftovers.

The happiness is one side of the coin on this holiday, and I can’t help but think about those families that are still checked into the hospital where I work, unable to be discharged home to practice their family traditions or the other nurses, doctors, ancillary staff there to take care of them. For them and many others, I celebrate and honor my own family and friends.

I am very, very thankful.