Everyone has their own Thanksgiving memories and stories to share, and mine are wrapped up with a side of Irish music and nostalgia. As a kid, I took Irish dancing lessons, long before the days of spray tans, pageantry, and sequins. Once I had a few years under my belt, I spent Thanksgiving week with dance friends at the annual 'Oireachtas' competitions hosted all over the midwest. I never competed well and preferred the social aspects instead, including the Oireachtas dinner dance, which was a weird mix of a high school prom and elementary school social. It was awkward and fun and had nothing to do with turkey and stuffing, and I loved the change up of my regular school routine and friend group.
For all the rest of my childhood years into early adulthood, Thanksgiving was spent at my parents' home on Dukes Lane, a nice house in the suburbs that became the gathering spot for the Walsh/Foley/Devine families to gather around adult and kid tables and eat too much. My mom was chief project manager, coordinating our motley crew and making sure all the dishes came out hot at about the same time. Mom made the best mashed potatoes and was responsible for the stuffing and cooking of the bird, while some of our relatives brought the classic Thanksgiving side dishes seen on many American tables. For years, I thought my Aunt Pat had invented the classic green bean casserole, and I still have not tasted one as good as hers.
My dad was the master of ceremonies, making sure everyone felt welcome and had a full drink. At the appointed time, he ceremoniously rolled up his sleeves and carved the turkey masterfully, making sure to save the wishbone and carcass for my Aunt Alice, who proudly made her own soup stock. My dad then led us all in grace before dinner and, as he got older, became more and more sentimental in his words and gratitude over us all being together, as if he knew these days were numbered.
Turns out he was right. When my parents sold the house, Thanksgiving moved around a few times but never took root in any one place for many different reasons. The few times my husband and I hosted Thanksgiving, we used paper plates, card tables, and served Bob Evans mashed potatoes. It was still nice, but definitely felt like a huge departure from what now seems like magical times celebrated on Dukes Lane. Many of the main characters from those old gatherings are now gone, and I feel their losses more deeply during the holidays.
Is it any wonder why I started this business helping families revisit and preserve memories?!? It's a powerful experience to help others honor their past and follow old threads that connect to their current lives. And you can try it yourself! This Thanksgiving, take a moment in between bites of pumpkin pie to share your holiday memories and perhaps ask a loved one about theirs. Here are a few prompts you can use:
What are your earliest Thanksgiving memories?
Who was gathered?
Who did the cooking and what was your favorite dish?
How has the holiday evolved for you over time?
Who were you grateful for then and who are you grateful for now?
On that note, and knowing this is a longer blog this month.... I'm grateful to all who have read this far and have supported me and this small business in one way or another. If you have trusted us as a client or have referred us to others, THANK YOU. We are grateful for every story we get to help preserve and if we haven't worked together yet, we hope we can soon! Be well and wishing you and yours a happy Thanksgiving.
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