A Most Memorable Saturday Thanksgiving Day In The Year of Twenty-Twelve

For the record

Our Saturday Thanksgiving of the year Twenty-twelve.

It is important for me, that's right for me to record this day for a few reasons.  First, I never got around to taking any photos that day.  Second,  I am getting older and the memories are fading faster than I would like to admit.  And third,  perhaps, just perhaps, Lynda Grace, my great-great-great granddaughter will want to know how I spent my Saturday Thanksgiving so long ago in 2012.

Lately, I haven't felt much like cooking.  Okay truth be told, I never was into it, cooking that is.  But I do have a couple of specialities that my kids seem to like a lot.   One of them is my gravy and meatballs. Or for those whose heritage is not from a particular region of Italy, it is probably more commonly known as sauce or to be more specific pasta sauce.

The kids also seem to like my lasagna a lot.
It was Joe's favorite, maybe his most favorite.
This year I just couldn't bring myself to make the lasagna, because I just couldn't.

I did make my own gravy and meatballs, but Ross and I decided to let Louie Bruno make the rest.

So I told the kids to come around 2:00.  Figuring they wouldn't get here at exactly that time, I asked Louie to bring the baked ziti and eggplant parmesan at 2:30.  Additionally, I wanted the dishes to be hot so that we could serve the food right away.

Jen, Derek, Bella and Ryan along with Anne and Domani, got here a little after 2:00.  They and we were hungry.

Louie Bruno, however, got held up on another delivery and by the time he got to our house it was 3:30 and by then the food had cooled down a bit.  Louie set the warming trays up and we waited for another hour for the dishes to heat back up to serving temperature.
Also, poor Louie, forgot the three loaves of Italian bread we ordered and he had to go back to the shop to get them.    I felt bad about asking him to do that, but hey, you gotta have the bread, ya know what I mean.

While we were waiting for the food to heat up, I did what I like to do best.  Sit back and watch my grandkids.

Of course they each have their own uniqueness.
Bella, my Bella, is well, my sweet Bella.  I know she will always be as sweet, but  I want her to stay eight years old for just a little while longer.  She brought her photo album from the November family cruise vacation.  We sat together as she showed me each picture accompanied by a running commentary.

The first thing five year old Ryan did when he came in was head for the sunroom/playroom.  With his shy little Ryan face, he asked me if he could go play in the room.
It amazes me that the kids look into that toy chest, which has the same set of toys, and still get excited with what they "find."

Domani is Joe's son and he is two.  He entertained us immensely with this gravely, growly Darth Vader voice.

Once the food was "ready, come and get it", the hustle and bustle of who is sitting where, and who wants what began.
It was worth the wait.  My gravy and meatballs were excellent. (Forgive the little self indulgent back patting here.) Louie's ziti and eggplant were outstanding.

Dessert was provided by Jen.  Her world famous chocolate chip cookies and soon to be just as famous delicious pumpkin cheese cake, which, according to Derek he helped make.  "Hey I went out got the stuff", he rightfully crowed.

Anne shared a few poignant letters she recently found from Joe.  They were especially endearing because they so typically showed Joe's sense of humor.  

Jimmy, my youngest son, didn't make our Saturday Thanksgiving.  He is having a tough time of it. He is apart from his two kids and I know how hard that is.  I wish he would let us in, though, because we all care so much.   

I especially missed my youngest son because, you see for me, it wasn't just another day.  It was our Saturday Thanksgiving day and I needed a hug as only he can give.  I have a feeling he could have used one too.  

And last but by no means least, I have to mention Ross.  Having family around means so much to him.  He never had children of his own. He's had too many sad losses recently also. 

His holiday memories are filled with loving parents, whom he lost at a much too young age, two kid sisters, and a houseful of company, who were always so warmly welcomed by his mother and father.     

So maybe neither one of us felt much like "celebrating" on our Saturday Thanksgiving this year, but as I reflect back on it, while we were in the midst of it, it really was a memorable celebration.

I have created a page for Anna's Diary.  It can be found under the Tab titled Anna's Diary.

I have posted all of the entries to date there, starting with January 1, 1929.

Here is today's entry from Anna's diary:

Tues.  November 26, 1929

Downtown with Junior.  Went in new shoe store "Golden Rule" to see Rose R.  Asked about family.  She expects to be married in April sometime.  Club at Helen C.