Missing My Girls

Another Thankgsiving has come and is almost gone. The guests are gone. Most of the pie is gone. The kitchen is clean and the dishwasher is running.

This is my second Thanksgiving without my daughter–she spent it with her boyfriend’s parents again–and I really missed her. I made “her” apple pie, and thought of her while peeling apples and making that darn lattice top that she does so well. Thanksgiving is much quieter without her around, and much calmer without her “drama.” My son is just not as talkative, and always goes with the flow (although he did complain about the lack of whipped cream for his pie–silly me, I thought ice cream would be enough).

This also is our first big holiday without our dog. My sister-in-law noted how strange it was to not have been greeted with Sally’s beagle howls, to be able to put her purse down without it beeing rummaged through, to be able to have appetizers on the coffee table without someone standing guard. This afternoon I noticed the time of day when I would have taken her for walk (pie done, other dishes prepped, guests not due for another hour), and after dinner tonight I really wanted to be getting some fresh air with “my baby.”

I enjoyed my quieter, calmer Thanksgiving, but I am looking forward to the extra bit of chaos that my daughter will bring when she comes home for Christmas break. She alway has PLANS and BIG IDEAS that wear me out but are great fun. She will bring her cat (Mr. Mittens), and also has plans to get us a new dog. I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet, but I will have to decide before I let her take me to the animal shelter because she is very good at talking me into things!

Tonight, I am thankful for my peaceful Thanksgiving, for the nice day I spent with my husband, son, parents and sister-and-law. I am thankful that my daughter has found a special someone who has a great family that treats her like their own. I am thankful that my daughter called to wish us a Happy Thanksgiving.

I am glad that today did not wear me out so much that I am dreading doing it all over again at Christmas, although I may accept someone else’s offer to host this time. 

I am almost glad that I need to go to work tomorrow because at least that takes me off the hook for Black Friday shopping.