As I am preparing our Thanksgiving dinner, my mind is not on today but many years ago.  Such fond memories of days gone by that will never be again.  They only live in my memories.

We usually drove to my Nano & Granddad's house early Thanksgiving day.  There were no Interstate highways, just 2 lane State highways to get there.  It took about 2-2 1/2 hours.  Most of the towns were small that we passed through.  The scenery was dotted with farm houses along the way.  It would be dark since we had to leave home so early.  These farm houses would have a light in a window shining in the dark. I always thought about those women who were up preparing their family Thanksgiving meal.  It made me feel warm inside and anxious to get to my grandparents where I knew a wonderful meal would be had and all my cousins would be there.

Once we arrived, Nano would be bustling in the kitchen.  There would be a huge bowl of bread she had torn the day before for the dressing.  She would make sweet potatoes, even though that I and my cousin Randy were the only ones who liked them.  If we were going to be there, she made them.  There would be mashed potatoes, gravy, turkey, macaroni and cheese (I have never been able to duplicate her macaroni & cheese), green beans, and so much more.  We kids would all gather in the kitchen, I guess we thought if we were in there watching that we would get to eat sooner.   One special dish Nano made was "glorified onions".  There are NO onions in it.  It's made with grapes, pineapple, mini marshallows and sweetened whipped cream.  My great uncle was there one holiday and she had made the dish.  He loved it and asked what it was called and since they knew he hated onions, they told him "glorified onions" and the name has stuck to this day.  Both my Nano and great uncle are gone but the story and the name has remained.

All this was before microwaves but Nano would put the leftovers on her breakfast bar and we would eat on it all day.  None of us ever got sick from the food sitting out and if we wanted to heat it up, we'd have to put it in a pan or the oven.  How things have changed.  I don't leave my food out.  We've been trained of the dangers of doing that. 

There are no big family gatherings in my family any more.  Everyone lives too far away.  I hate it.  I've told my husband that we should buy some acreage and build a house and build houses for all our kids so they and the grandkids can visit and have warm holiday memories like we did.  Of course the kids wouldn't want to live that close to the old people.  It's so sad.  We have all this technology now to keep in touch, even with those outside the USA.  But we have lost the important face time that once was.

I hope that you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving and making memories with your families.