Thanksgiving Thoughts
A work of fiction from Katy (L.K. Houk)
The sheets feel good. A little chilly, but soft and comfortable. I wonder what the day will bring. Oh, now I remember: this is Thanksgiving Day. Well, hip, hip hooray! Not that I don’t appreciate a holiday, but, let me tell you, it seems like one day is about like any other here. Not that they are not nice to me, and don’t treat me well, but holidays just aren’t like they used to be. Especially when we were down home on the farm.
An aide comes into the room, being friendly and talks to me. “Oh, hello, dear. Are you having a good morning? Yes, I know it’s a holiday. Big doings for lunch, eh? No, no, I don’t think I want to go down to the great room. I’m much more comfortable just being in here with my thoughts and memories. Yes, I’ve already been up, had some coffee and toast, and done my daily personal chores, and now I think I’ll just relax and watch the birds out the window. It’s too late for the hummingbirds, but the cardinals and blue jays give a nice color outside.”
Photo by Aaron Doucett on Unsplash
Thanksgiving used to be such a special time. Especially when everybody celebrated it at our house when I was growing up. SO MUCH FOOD!! My gracious, you’d think we were having the Pope’s court. Court? Is that what it’s called? Doesn’t seem right somehow. Oh, well. Mother would be up at the crack of dawn buttering up a turkey big enough to feed a battalion of soldiers. And her cornbread dressing was to die for! Of course, there was the requisite (and expected, and joyfully consumed) cranberry salad, complete with pecans and miniature marshmallows. I didn’t care much for the chopped celery myself, but into each life a little rain must fall, I suppose.
It seemed like an eternity until the family was up and stirring. I’m glad Daddy slept a little later than his usual up and at ‘em. As a matter of fact, we’re all kind of discombobulated on Daddy’s late days. It throws a wrench into the usual grind. But I’ll go out and help him pick up eggs, feed the cattle, and toss some cane hay out to the horses. Oh, by the way, I learned a lesson about that. You can’t pick up hay with a pitchfork when you’re standing on the hay. Live and learn.
The aide chatters constantly: “Good morning, Miss Katy. Did you rest well? It’s going to be a bright, sunny day! Here, let me open these blinds. Oh, look at you! You’re already up and dressed and going! I should have expected that! You’re such an early bird!”
And on and on she goes. I think she got her chatterbox turned over and can’t figure out how to make her mouth quit working…. But she’s a nice girl, and I’m glad I have her help from time to time. Now, I’m thinking. Does she expect responses to EVERYTHING she’s yammering about? A stop in the wordage would be a good clue. No, on she goes! A good gal, but just a little too wordy for me. Uh-oh, she’s waiting for me to respond. Yikes!
“Sorry, dear, I guess I was lost in my thoughts. What did you say? No, I don’t think I will go down to the great room. I’ll just start my day slowly in here. Yes, please bring the breakfast tray when it’s convenient for you. Yes, sugar and cream. Sharron came in a while ago with my morning pills.”
As she leaves with a cheerful “Ta-ta”, I relax a little. I’ve often thought about posting a sign on my door: “Too many words make one feel weak.” Or maybe, “Silence is the essence of the soul.” Yes, that’s better. What in the world is that racket? Oh, they’re doing the floors and cleaning earlier today since they expect to have people coming and going. They are good at keeping this place neat as a pin. “Company’s-a-comin’”, as we used to say. That will be nice. Now where’s my crossword book?
Funny, I used to be so ebullient. I don’t seem to have much to say now.
“Thank you so much. Yes, just put the tray on the table. I’ll be over in a minute to eat. Rosa.” A good girl. Very quiet. Suits me to a T.
Doesn’t seem like it should be November, much less the end of November! I remember that Thanksgiving Day when I had let the colts out to feed, roaming between the rows of young trees. Daddy always planted rye grass between the rows of trees. It stayed nice and green until the winter. Uh-Oh! Now I remember! Seems like I was supposed to do something. Oh, I remember. I was supposed to pen them up before guests come, especially with Nana and Aunt Thelma arriving from Tulsa. Ei-yi-yi! They will definitely not be excited about the welcoming committee! Why do these colts always get so chummy with people who are reticent?
The colts are so rambunctious. Oh, no! Here come Nana and Aunt Thelma. Come on, guys. Stand back and give them some room!
Photo by Sinisa Lekovic on Unsplash
“Oh! I’m sorry. What did you say, Rosalina? Yes, I’m about finished with breakfast. Go ahead and take it. Thank you very much for your service. Have a good day!”
Oh, uh-oh! Here come the cousins. They’re city kids, from Chicago and Tulsa and Denver. Not too excited to see the welcoming committee. Yikes!
Here are the rest of the relatives. Soon they will be glued to the TV for a football game. Poor Daddy! He wants to be welcoming to his brothers-in-law. He just has nothing in common with them. Except family. Good old family! Pretty soon he’ll be heading for “the bathroom” and slipping out the back door to the office to look over orders for trees. Watch’ em! They don’t even know he’s gone. I’d hate to think nobody knows when I am gone. Gone is such a final thing....
Hey, everyone is here! What’s this other car coming up the road? Oh, I know. These are the carolers from the church down the road. A little early, aren’t we, folks? I hate to be picky, but I think I’ll just stay out of the way. I know music is supposed to “soothe the savage soul” or whatever, but if I swear if I hear Frosty the Snowman again, I think I’ll turn into a snow woman. Yes, here’s a lawn chair. I’ll pretend to be asleep.
Hmmm.m.m.m That’s just not right. I didn’t mean to fall asleep…. Or did I?
Why am I sitting here watching the pretty red and blue birds out the window and thinking about past Thanksgivings?
“Well, look who’s here! Hello, my sweet girls!”
I love it when the grandchildren come to visit. No more daydreaming. I have real angels to talk to and hear all about their fascinating lives!
“Well, sure, girls! We can go eat together in the great room! Daddy and Mommy are already in there saving a table?! That will be fun! And I can show off my priceless princesses…Come on! Let’s go! You can all take turns pushing my wheelchair! Just don’t go too fast! Don’t run over anybody! What a hoot! A Thanksgiving to remember!!!! Whee!!!!”
