Reflections

Growing up, each Christmas my grandma wrapped the latest Avon products and labeled them with my name.  The gifts were usually opened at Thanksgiving since she lived in West Virginia and we didn't go for Christmas  Once my sister and I got older (late elementary) and were harder to shop for, grandma started a new tradition: Black Friday shopping.  It wasn't so focused on commercialism, but, instead, was centered around time with a grandma we loved doing something she loved.  We'd leave before the sun came up, drive into Maryland (there's no mall in my parents' WV hometown) and park at Country Club Mall.  After a biscuit at Chickfilla we would start searching for the best and most fashionable deals.  Grandma was always sure to redirect us if she wasn't in agreement with our fashion sense.  My sister and I would hear comments like "that's drab."  Grandma loved to shop, especially on the Alfred Dunner racks.  This shopping continued until lunch, when we would meet my parents at Jerry's Pizza.  Each year we proudly carried our finds back home to wrap and save for Christmas. 

In the beginning, we could barely keep up with grandma.  As the years went by, we caught up to her and eventually she sat on the benches while we shopped.  These are precious memories that I am thankful for as I hold her in the memory of my heart. 

I loved Thanksgiving in "wild and wonderful" West Virginia.  It's part of my heart, it's part of who I am.  It was a special time to rejoice in extended family and celebrate being together.   Every year grandma would insult her own pies and cooking and every year I would try to figure out the recipes behind her phenomenal food.  It only amounted to "a little of this, a little of that."  In her later years, I tried to help her with the pies.  She made everyone's favorites and everyone had a different favorite: lemon, cherry, apple, mincemeat, pumpkin, chocolate, peach, and so on. 

Today I called my family, all gathered together.  On speaker phone, I could hear the beautiful chaos of aunts, cousins, and the next generation in the background.   It made me happy just to hear it.  The phone was passed around and ended on my brother.  As we said goodbye he told me he wished I was there and missed me...stirred my heart.  I enjoyed celebrating with Paul's family today, yet I can't wait to get home for Christmas.