We gathered at my brother’s home to celebrate Thanksgiving early. There wasn’t an ungrateful face to be seen. This group circulated as an etiquette book would recommend. We didn’t talk to the same two or three people for more than half an hour.
While we waited for the turkey to be done, we nibbled on appetizers. All were delicious, but the most decorative was Julie’s veggie turkey platter.
My brother Bob is the head of our family now. He and wife Beth hosted our dinner. Their three daughters and three grandchildren were with us, as well as two brothers-in-law with spice (whacky plural of spouse). John and I had our daughter Lise and friend Chris with us. There were 17 of us in all, sitting at three tables. I wish you could have heard the laughter that burst out from each table. We were having a wonderful time.
Before we left the table, brother-in-law Rick did two magic tricks. The first was a card trick, a rather standard one, but done with an iPhone. Below Lise is listening to Siri announce the card she had chosen from the deck.
For the second illusion, Rick took a photo of Julie’s hand. A nasty spider began crawling around on her screen hand. It was uncomfortably life-like. Rick tapped her real hand, and the spider was sitting there in all its 3-D splendor. There was instant applause.
Cell phones have been around a while, but I’d never seen a magic trick using one. I asked, “When did you begin using the iPhone for this?”
He replied, “Yesterday.”
I knew I missed taking a photo of one of the grandchildren, so I followed Sam downstairs. His Uncle John was explaining an experiment. They would fill a bowl with water, light a candle and put it in the water, and cover the candle with a glass. What did he think would happen? Sam (16) thought a moment and said the flame would go out when the oxygen was used up. They set it up, and Sam was right. The flame was extinguished, and at the same time, the candle floated to the top of the water. I loved the way the teacher engaged the young man intellectually.
One couple and two families with children had to leave, because they had school and work the next day. The remaining eight of us chatted until midnight and reluctantly went to bed. Thinking about the conversations, I came to the conclusion this was the most well-traveled group I’d ever been in. John and I were the homebodies. The families with children gallop about the world more than we do. Don’t read any envy in those statements, because I’m perfectly satisfied with my life in the mountains.
There were fragments of sentences, a few of which sounded like this:
Croatia has the most beautiful…. When I was in Tanzania…. Next will be a Danube River cruise… Our first trip to South America…. The food in Copenhagen…. We always stopped in Iceland for…. Two airplane bathroom disasters…. Missed our flight because…. Had a $2,000 offer for our seats if we’d….
We have all resolved to be together again a year from now. It would be fun to draw lines on a map to show where everyone traveled in that one year.
Mehrling Muse 
That is soooo cool. Your family reminds me of the folks back home in Alabama. This year we will go to my sisters. She lives in the “ghetto”, we tease her, so it should be interesting. LOL
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That post just blessed me beyond measure. I love how you describe family gatherings; I feel like I’m right there with you for all the moments! You have such a wonderful loving family. What a gift! I am so thankfull you share your family with us!!
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I love sharing my family, Mari. Thank you for reading about them.
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I enjoy every moment!
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I wish there was a love button for this post! I can just imagine the noise and laughter. It sounds just like when our group gets together…other than the well-traveled part.
That vegetable platter is a work of art! I will have to show my daughter-in-law, as she is coming with one for our celebration. (She is the web guru for my blog).
Your pictures are so much fun. And I love your centerpieces.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Anne! May you be blessed.
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My sister-in-law is very artistic. Will you post any photos of your Thanksgiving gathering? I’d love a peek.
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I hope to! I have the camera ready.
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My reply got lost. I’ll bet your family sounds just like ours. My sister-in-law is very artistic, not like me. Will you post ay phoitos of your Thanksgiving? I’d love to see your family in action.
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I am planning to post some. And I have my camera already waiting! I suspect our families are a lot alike.
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Omigosh what a fabulous gathering, it sure looks like you all had an absolute blast! I’m kind of envious – many of my family members are gone now (parents, aunts, uncles), or scattered far and wide (cousins). But I’m so glad you had such an enjoyable time!
Canadian Thanksgiving was in October, it was quiet but my kitty keeps me company and my wonderful long-distance boyfriend and I had lots of laughs on the phone! (I’d just seen him a few weeks before. It’s prohibitively expensive for him to come here very often, unfortunately.)
Cheers!
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I wish you could come to our Thanksgiving gatherins, Ellie. It would have been easier when we lived in NY. The Northern family (John’s) is just as much fun as mine.
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Wow, that is so sweet, Anne! To think of inviting me… I’m moved. Just knowing that makes me feel so good! Be well, friend. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
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We’ve always had non-family members at our Thanksgiving dinners. They make our celebrations sparkle There was a man from China who was with us for maybe 10 years, and we enjoyed a young man from Sweden who came only once. Our nephew invited a friend who flew the two of them in a helicopter. You would be a great addition, Ellie.
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It seems like you enjoyed every bit of the celebration Anne. It is always nice to celebrate with family members.
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Anne,
Loved reading about the fun you had on your early Thanksgiving. How blessed you are to have so many Thanksgiving celebrations – you can meet all your family with this one festival.
Susie
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Yes and no, Susie. For 50 years we had Thanksgiving with John’s family in New York. Now I’m near my brother, so we’ve begun celebrating with my side of the family down here. Our folks are similar — lots of love and friendship among us all.
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Wonderful post, makes us all feel like we’re sitting around the table with you. I didn’t know about iphone tricks, learn something new everyday!
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I don’t have an iPhone, but lots of people do. It tickled me that our in-law relative is keeping up with the latest in magic tricks. His right hand was almost destroyed in an industrial accident long ago, and his therapist suggested he use magic tricks to improve dexterity. We think he is totally amazing.
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