A Thankful Heart is A Happy Heart

Thanksgiving is just a few days away, but I think every day is Thanksgiving. I don't wait for a turkey-laden day to know what I am grateful for, do you??

I think we should just rename it "Stuff your face day", since come on, you know all you care about is pie. Yes, you do! That and who can make it to the couch first!

My mom is so funny, in a not so funny way. She always plans dinner for the middle of the football game. Not before. Not after, but right in the middle. It always drove Steve nuts, but you just don't mess with mom and her ideas. I guess she wants the emphasis to be on dinner and not on football. Crazy woman, huh? She's been cooking for days, up early sticking her hand in a cold bird's behind, I guess she can call the shots about dinner.

We have a few smokers in our family, and of course, they can't smoke in the house, so they stand outside and freeze!! I have no sympathy for them. I hate smoking and I tell them so. I'm sure I'm the favorite sister and aunt, aren't I?? Oh, not really, but at least my lungs are clean. And I'm younger. Much younger.

Thanksgiving goes really well unless the marshmallow topping on the sweet potatoes catches on fire again. Now, that is hilarious, although the smoke alarm and hearing aid combo---not that funny. Well, kinda. Almost as funny as the time the pepper lid came off while seasoning the gravy and mom and I had to put the gravy through a sieve. Someone at the table had the nerve to compliment the gravy and we busted out laughing. Crazy women, all of us.

My favorite part of these family get togethers is when one of my siblings brings up those lovely childhood memories. Funny how everyone has a different memory of the same event, isn't it? Well, they're all liars and I was a perfect child. Enough said.

We don't fight over the wishbone because it could easily turn into hand to hand combat. It's bad enough when there's one last piece of pumpkin pie. U-G-L-Y!! Of course we all fight over who "gets" to do the dishes. Mom never wants help, and my sister used to take her up on it and go take a nap. I have a solution to that. All the women will retreat to the living room, put their hand in the waistband of their tight pants, flip on a Hallmark movie, belch and make the men do the dishes. Yeah!!

I don't know about you, but I can't wait for Thanksgiving. I just love family get togethers. Just a second, I am laughing so hard I'm in tears and I can't see! Okay, I'm kidding a little. I do like some parts of getting together, but really, I just love the food. And the pie. Okay, and the family time.

I am thankful for my family, warts and all, and for the time we are able to get together, tease each other, complain, and fight over the last piece of pie. I am most grateful for mom, who sticks her hand in that gross turkey, pulls out his little "lunch" and cooks it up for the dogs. That woman just rocks.

Happy Stuff Your Face Day, and Happy Thanksgiving!!