Simple Gifts

Thanksgiving has come and gone. Thank goodness.

Not that I didn't enjoy it.

We had a quiet dinner, took a nap and went to see John in the hospital to spread the joy that we can. Being in the hospital on a major holiday bites, and I wanted John to at least have some good home-made food, even if it didn't have any animal products in it. Well, other than the butter (lots of it) and eggs. (Most vegetarians draw the line somewhere between principle and wanting and needing good food, like dairy.)

John's doing ok, all things considered. I don't know that he'll ever do great again, given the Parkinson's. It's a disease that doesn't lend itself to much progress. It seems to be more a matter of trying to hold onto whatever one has than ever believing in getting better.

That, in and of itself, is depressing. The knowledge that it's all down hill from here must be overwhelming. Fighting that is certainly honorable, and it reinforces my belief in the unusual strength of the human spirit. But some days, it's just got to be a pisser.

John liked the fruit salad most. It was one of my best. Substituting clove powder (which I couldn't get from anywhere I would buy it from) with allspice gave it much more subtlety. After many versions and incarnations, I think I have that one right.

I said earlier that I'm glad Thanksgiving has come and gone. Not because I don't like it--it's really my favorite holiday of the year. No expectations of gifts, and if you can get a good meal on the table in a reasonable amount of time, you're a hero.

That said, our world has been upside down of late. And feast days always bring to mind why we're not spending them with our families. The reasons boils down to distance and dysfunction.

It's an eleven hour drive to Mama's house. If the weather cooperates. Shannon has problems with long errands around the neighborhood, so an eleven hour drive is out of the question. And I refuse to leave him here alone on a holiday.

The dysfunction comes in with my sisters and Shannon's brother. It's there, but we're just not going to talk about it. Rehashing old grievances and pointedly pronouncing judgement of the present don't make for a good dinner.

So, we had a nice (very tasty, if I maybrag for a second) Thanksgiving dinner. Everything got done early, so we just ate early. Didn't have to worry about anyone showing or not showing up. Didn't have to entertain.

We just enjoyed each other's company and had a nice meal.

For that I give shameless, unabashed thanks.

God is good when he wants to be.

He was.