Family Time

My wife Karen is in the front room doing an exercise routine following a class on her computer. My daughter Kerala is in the back room doing a different exercise routine following the class a her computer. My granddaughter Zadie is sleeping late (she’s 14) in the spare room in the middle of the house, soon to awaken to bake cake in the kitchen. My grandson Malik is writing Chapter 12 of his novel (he’s 10!) at the kitchen table. Our house is abuzz with the presence of family. Not easy to stand in line for a shower or find a place for me to write in our little house, but still I love it.

 

Meanwhile, my other daughter Talia spent the first night in her new house with her boyfriend Matt and their two cats, Willie and Luci. After lunch, we’ll go over to their place to fill it with family energy and celebrate Talia’s 41^st birthday. Tomorrow we go to my sister Ginny’s house for Thanksgiving to celebrate with her and her husband Jim and one of her sons, Damion, his wife Roxie and their 2-year-old son Rocco. 

 

Thanksgiving is so much about family and besides simply being grateful that I have one, I’m equally grateful for the fine human beings they all are. No shouting across political or religious beliefs, no ongoing unforgiven trespasses, nobody struggling with addiction. While I feel compassion for other families dealing with these kind of issues, I’d be less than honest if I didn't confess that I’m grateful that we’re spared these big dramas and can deal with the smaller ones— Malik kicking the ball in the house, Zadie eating a bit too much candy before dinner, Talia just gloating a bit too much beating me in table cornhole. 

More to say, but the shower’s free. Better grab it!