Giving Thanks For my Family of Friends

As I write this, it is the day after Thanksgiving, and I am surrounded by reminders of yet another successful holiday gathering at “Chez Smith.”

The giant turkey platter is still sitting on the kitchen table, along with a half-consumed bottle of red wine and a few stray crumbs. This time yesterday, I was frantically buzzing around the kitchen, preparing for the annual eating frenzy that was about to take place in my living room (I don’t have a dining room; so each year out come the card tables and chairs and the living room IS the dining room).

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday because it’s about two of my favorite things-spending time with family and eating good food. No gifts to buy, no presents to wrap, just lots of talking, laughing and eventually, napping.

It’s about family, and as always, my mom and dad were there, Mom overseeing the making of the gravy and Dad carving up the turkey. 

As an only child, Thanksgiving was a much smaller affair in my single days. When I got married, I gained not one but two sets of in-laws, a daughter, a brother, two sisters, and eventually several nieces and nephews and a son-in-law. Mark and I added a daughter and son to the mix, and the result yesterday was 17 family members crammed into the living room. 

It's a big goofy extended family, and always a good time.

But I have another family that I didn't get to spend time with yesterday; my family of friends. Being an only child, I had to go out and find my OWN brothers and sisters; the people who share memories and good times and yes, even some bad times with me. 

And I am very, very lucky because I have the greatest group of friends a girl could wish for.  My friend Deb has been my "twin sister" since we were eleven.  Others have joined my family of friends during my college years, my single years, my early childrearing years and now my almost empty nest years. 

Each and every one of them holds a very special place in my heart, and I am so grateful that they are a part of my life. 

So to my sisters and brothers from other mothers, Happy Belated Thanksgiving. I would have written this sooner, but as you know, I'm always running late!   Thanks for sharing my life with me, dancing with me, making me giggle, and making so many memories.  I love you guys!