2014 Thanksgiving

Traditionally, my aunt's house has been the Thanksgiving family gathering place. This morning was crisp and dewy as we pulled up in our CRV. The ride from my home town to Topeka is quite an arduous journey, usually the car is two times heavier, packed with our overnight baggage and books my literary-loving family enjoys in the car. But, since my birthday usually falls on, or around Thanksgiving, its even more crowded on the way back. So, once we pull the car around the three neighborhood circles, which are already festive with natures decorations of fall leaves and pine trees. We pile out of the car stretching our legs with great relief. My aunts house has always been such a quaint place of family meeting; her style is a very regal 1800's. The paint is dark navy with white trim and the second floor features two north facing windows with black shudders. Through the next half hour, my parents talked about the happenings at the farm, KU's basketball scores and my aunt's new kitchen sink. But me, I'm drawn to talk to, I think the most interesting person in the crowd, my cousin, the pianist. He is a very worldly person who has seen almost every coast. He once got a job playing on a cruiseship. He's awesome! Someday, I aspire to have the knowledge of something as well as he has for the piano. In fact, thats what has inspired me to keep playing the piano. The whole genius of musicians is quite marvelous! After much talk, and my aunt's constant buzzing to and from the kitchen to check the turkey's temperauture, the bird arrives festooned with stuffing and a vibrant red cranberry sauce. My grandfather always quiets the family with his reticent manner at the head of the table. A hushed silence falls, and with trouble the family prophet stands, and addresses all the things we should be thankful for and how we should get along with our relatives(Later on I find that this speech was directed toward me, I had been having disagreements with my parents.) After, our family sage had spoken his words of wisdom, we bowed our heads for the concluding prayer. Then the merry-go-round of delicious food comes and goes. The table was bulging with turkey, cranberry sauce and potatoes. Savory wines and rich eggnog is passed round the table. After dinner, a soporific silence ensues, my uncle. Who lies prostrate on the dark green leather couch, and falls into a food coma. Usually, my aunt and all the ladies of the family do not rest after the feast. Most women, by creation, are curious, and enjoy talking. After all the plates and various dishes have been cleared from the table, $5 is ponied up and laid in the center of the table and cards are dealt for the annual sketch game. Which family memeber will take the fame? My dad does not enjoy playing this game, he enjoys strumming his guitar.He strums up and down,up and down.Singing the old cowboy love song, "Ghost Riders in the Sky." By God's grace, today his baby girl, he almost lost, turns nineteen.