Time to be thankful

It's that time of year again, already, you know we spend all day Thanksgiving Day in the kitchen and the Tequila bottle while waiting for things to bubble to a golden brown! Next, the husky man will be squeezing down everyone's chimney. I live in Florida, so, he gets off easy sneaking in the sliding glass door!

As I sat on my lanai last night, I not only began to run down my mental list of all I am thankful in my life--even though it has truthfully been the worst year on record for me where work and finances are concerned. I was amazed at what I was thankful for...more importantly, how simple the items were on my list.

It made me feel warm to know I have finally learned to be grateful for the simple things in my life: good health, healthy family (this year), success on the freelance venture I have slowly begun to launch. Then, all of a sudden I veered onto a trip down memory lane.

I think this road map popped up as the anniversary of my mother's passing is a mere two weeks away and not any holiday has ever been the same, because my mother (and others I'll mention) truthfully made the holidays what they ever meant to me.

I miss the older days where we all lived up north, closer to one another and holiday meals meant a long table set for at least 30-40 adults and countless children at the kids table. Days when my mom ran you all out of the kitchen because with the aromas you just wanted a taste of everything. Eating the meal thinking I could not believe one person successfully made this feast alone.

But, I also missed days even farther behind me...the days when the traditions that my family now respects and practices were being established or simply passed down to another generation. I can remember vividly being three or four years old and entering my grandparents' home...I can see the rooms like I was there today. Walking through the parlor and the living room into the kitchen where it ALL took place and seeing my Ba-Ba (Slovic for grandma) in her long black smock dress with the buttons all the way down the front; the long white apron with red flowers all over it--edged with a red border tied around her waste.

The hugs she would give me...I wish I could find those still today and she would tell me I was her 'special girl'...basically I was the youngest (and cutest) af a huge clan, at that time. Getting off course, sorry.

Seeing her two daughters and three daughters-in-law (one of them my mom) all with aprons on, mixing, kneading, peeling, boiling and baking...sweating! These were the days before food processors, electric knives, electric coffee makers...even blenders. The good 'ol days where these women made everything from scratch with secret recipe's and ingredients that no one would know until much later.

Anyway, I remember being amazed at watching this well-oiled machine for years. I was amazed until I got out on my own, had my family and developed a true love and passion for cooking, baking and enjoying food with a number of guests. There is nothing more I love than to prepare a good sized meal to place upon a table for at least six people...watch them load their plates...the silence at the table as they smile and nod their heads in approval of the fare offered to them. There is no feeling like that, it's so rewarding.

These days, the holidays are not really about tradition anymore, or even family; it has become a huge marketing machine.

What I am thankful for are the women that made the traditions we still celebrate...these help to remember those women, most of whom have had to leave us and can no longer be here on these special days. I am thankful for the days where at least 60-70 people in my extended family could sit together for two hours and simply be thankful for one meal and one day together.

I get warm inside when my daughter shows me older pictures she has saved of former holiday meals down in Florida with my mother; so happy she holds those times that dear to her to hold onto a photographic frozen image in time. So glad that I was able to make the holidays special enough for her as a single mom that she cares to remember. I just hope she learns to cook and keep the traditions going! LOL!

Grateful to many women who taught me how to cook: Italian families I have worked for and with (culinary wizards); mothers of past boyfriends that taught me to make what their son liked for dinner; and to my mom and my father's mother and sister's who taught me the science and talent of adding a 'pinch' of this or 'add to taste' versus following the exact science of a scripted recipe (except where baking is concerned). Thankful that these women walked through and touched my life...and prepared me to be able to do the same for my daughter--who cannot even microwave something because she says it is 'better' when I do it!

Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy your meal and your families. Remember your elders that slaved manually over hot kettles, cast iron pots and old/hot ovens to make your day tasty and special.

This is what Thanksgiving means to me...I hope it can be what all of you wish it to be.

Dedicated to my mother, my three aunts and all my grandparents that have moved onto the next chapter of life...thanks for all you did, and I hope there is less work involved where you walk today. Love, appreciate and miss you all. We will toast you on Thanksgiving prior to our meal.