A Thanksgiving to remember

The celebration of Thanksgiving in my family always seemed to come with a set of rules when I was growing up. It always consisted of the gathering of just family, and for me, my family was fairly small. There was Grandma, Grandpa, my mom, my sister, my unmarried Aunt Bonnie (who doted on my sister and me) and my father for the first five years of my life.

The table was set "just so" with the good dishes and best silver and a traditional dinner was served with no variation to the menu. When my mom and dad divorced and Mom re-married, the tradition changed very little with the exception of a "new grandma" to love and the addition of two step-brothers and a sister who weren't always there to join us ... still in all, little changed and I thought that was the way it had to be.

But then, as my sister Judy and I grew up, all the rules changed in both our lives. Marriage has a way of doing that sometimes as families grow and expand. In-laws (and sometimes out-laws) added to holiday chaos, children were born and they grew up, now having families of their own. Soon, the stayed traditions I was raised with, were just a mere memory.

Many Thanksgivings have come and gone since those days, and tradition like I knew it, was tossed out the window this year - for the better I might add, and along with yet another change in my life, the realization of just what a holiday should be all about. For me, this year, Thanksgiving is all about knowing a world of special friends and special relationships as B.J. and I held out our hands to all our friends who didn't have any special plans for the day and accented the combination with all of our family we could gather around us.

If the day goes as I've planned, our little house will burst at the seams with love, laughter and a whole lot of fun. There will be Carl and Susanne, Brian and Jeannie, Tom and Carol, Mike and Deanna, Bob, Ron, B.J.'s daughter Caity, my son Mike, John and his wife Alicia, my mom, everyone contributing special goodies with the biggest contribution being a loving warmth of harmony and the enjoyment of each other's company. And the real beauty of the day will be that none of us had to drive more than a few miles to get together.

Football reigns supreme. The sometimes solemn quiet of my early Thanksgiving memories will be replaced with lively conversations and laughter, a terrific addition to the smells of deep-fired turkey and all the exotic contributions to the menu as everyone adds their own touch of tradition to the day. What a wonderful time, what a fantastic Thanksgiving and a great way to learn what this holiday is really all about. I am so thankful to have special friends and family to enrich my life.

n Holiday happenings. Make sure you sign up for the annual Sagehens Children's Christmas Party which will be noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Topaz Ranch Estates Community Park building at the end of Carter Way in TRE. This free event is for children ages 2-10 years old and must be accompanied by an adult. There will be holiday crafts and games and a special visit from Santa. The sign-up sheets are at the following locations: Maggie's Place, Reflection Salon, Nevada Trading Co., Topaz Lodge General Store and Holbrook Mini Mart. For more information contact Helen Lee, 266-9105.

n Jonni Hill can be reached through The Record-Courier at jhill@recordcourier.com or by calling 782-5121, ext. 213, or after hours at JHILL47@aol.com