Some traditions are meant to last forever. Others are meant to grow up and move on.
Thanksgiving has always been a favorite holiday of mine.
Not necessarily because of the turkey, mashed potatoes and southern style dressing (although I did love that dressing.)
It’s because of the traditions.
When I was young, Thanksgiving meant family, food, and fun, with traditions I looked forward to every year.
No doubt the Thanksgiving meal was the hero,, but the day started with my Dad making a special breakfast, followed by watching the parade, then a classic Holiday movie. It’s a Wonderful Life was a favorite. (The movie is a tradition I can’t get my family to follow.)
Then one day I found myself sitting at the adult table of holiday celebrations. Yes, a family of my own looking forward to passing on traditions and creating some of our own.
And that’s how traditions work. We inherit them, enjoy them and eventually pass them along.
Which brings us to this Thanksgiving.
For the first time Pam and I will be “kidless” for Thanksgiving.
Parker recently became a citizen of New Jersey, and Paulina is living her best life in Chicago.
Their adulting has changed the dynamics of our Thanksgiving, maybe forever.
This is a strong reminder that life moves through stages, and some stages arrive without asking for permission.
I think there is an important lesson about aging here.
We spend so much time thinking about what we are losing as we move through life.
Perhaps we should look at life differently.
I will always have the memories that I have enjoyed in my past. Now it is time to make new and different memories. New traditions.
I am excited to watch my kids grow and make their own traditions, and follow some passed down in the family. Maybe they will watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” someday.
Maybe not.
As for Pam and I , life is different now. But we will figure it out.
I am excited for us to make some new traditions that will lead to more wonderful memories.
Maybe we will have spaghetti for dinner and pretend we are in Italy.
Better yet maybe we will go to Italy.
Enjoy your day,
Just a little extra-
Happy Thanksgiving.
Please share with me one of your favorite memories or traditions from Thanksgiving.
References
Cole, Garry. February 2024. Are We Old Yet? (Yes, I used my book as a reference)