Thanksgiving 2008

Why a picture of the Thanksgiving table? Well I couldn't share Thanksgiving with my NJ family this year, so I sent them this picture. Rachel opened it on her laptop and showed it to Oma. Oma commented that I had a new tablecloth. Yes, she's right. It was special to me to try to share the holiday with Oma long distance because for a very long time, it was our holiday. 1984 was my first year at Horace Mann and we were off on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. My mom and my sisters were not. So I would spend Wednesdays with Oma, cooking and prepping for Thanksgiving, setting the table and making all sorts of yummy foods. I actually chopped liver by hand a number of years, using the blade chopper and a wooden bowl. Even when I was older, I would still help Oma with Thanksgiving. When she moved out of her home, she gave me the pilgrim candles, our traditional family symbol of Thanksgiving. They are above (Oma's are the smaller ones in front). The candles inspired my love of Thanksgiving kitsch. Katie added to the kitsch by making turkey napkin rings. They were an adorable touch and she loved doing it.

So it was very special to me to have our Thanksgiving dinner, the first one in our first home, at the very same table at which I ate Thanksgiving dinner for the first 24 years of my life.

Thank you Oma.