Thanksgiving...A time to give thanks

I always love to wake up Thanksgiving morning to the smell of the turkey roasting in the oven. There is something about the smells of the holiday that bring back old memories and make way for treasured memories to become traditions. When I was a youngster, there were very few meals that were actually prepared or eaten at the house as most were prepared and eaten at the cafe. Thanksgiving and Christmas were different as those holidays meant that a feast would be prepared and that Grandma Gaines and Grandpa Art Yerby would be invited for the day at the house. Mom would prepare the meal. She would start the day before. Nancy and I would wash the dishes (which seemed to go on for days) after the meal was over. I always remembered these as special times and I remember also that I thought that it was important that we have a prayer to Give Thanks. My family was not religious and if I wanted a prayer, it was up to me to say it...and so I did...every year. I was especially grateful this year as Valerie and her family, Michael, Craig, and I gathered around a feast of our own special delicious smelling/tasting meal that Craig, our family patriarch, lead our family in blessing this wonderful meal and giving thanks. It was a wonderful day. I can remember thinking that I would like to hold these memories in my thoughts forever. I am grateful for our family traditions that bring us so much joy and happiness.