Thanksgiving Begins

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Our Thanksgiving celebration began with bringing two relatives home. We picked up grandson Nathaniel at his first break from college. He sat in his favorite seat in the very back of the car.

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We ate lunch at Rooster’s while killing time before going to the airport. Nathaniel shot a selfie to show some of the roosters on the wall. We texted that one to his mother and his brother. This was our way of being together while 800 miles apart.

111718 AM Nate at Rooster's.jpg

Getting daughter Lise worked smoothly this year. John drove, and Nathaniel went into the airport terminal. I was the communications hub as John and I headed for the cell phone lot. When aunt and nephew connected, Nathaniel texted me, and we drove back into the airport to pick them up. The problem was that Lise couldn’t use her Danish phone, and she couldn’t reactivate her American phone without WiFi. Last year she asked several strangers in the airport before one would let her borrow a phone to text us.

111718 Lise and Nate.jpg

We congratulated ourselves that everything was going well. Big mistake! We stopped for Lise to get lunch, and the car wouldn’t start. Triple A promised to rescue us in two hours. We were hemmed in by cars on both sides in the parking lot. When a man came back to the car on the right, Lise asked if he would give us a jump start. He was very willing, but the cables wouldn’t stretch far enough. Two young women with children were getting in the car on the left, so John asked if they would help. One was very hesitant, but the other agreed to pull her car closer. Bingo! Nathaniel canceled the rescue as we headed home.

The bags were barely in the house when Nathaniel called Lise to be part of the mirror moving ceremony. Whenever Nathaniel is in residence, he puts the mirror on a higher nail where he can see himself. It’s silly, but we all get a kick out of it.

111718 Lise observes mirror ritual.JPG

As soon as they unpacked a few things, we had a snacky supper, followed by pie. I always bake a pumpkin pie for Lise. It’s her favorite, which she can’t get in Denmark. There are no rules for it, so she sometimes eats a piece for breakfast. This time she started before going to bed. Nathaniel spoke of wanting a pecan pie before he went off to college. I bought the nuts for it but ran out of time to make it, so how better to welcome him back? When he offered us a piece, I jumped at the chance. I wanted to make sure the crust was not soggy. It satisfied me, so I didn’t ask chef Nathaniel for an evaluation.

111618 Pies for Nate and Lise.JPG

Other relatives will be arriving during the week, though I don’t think we will have more than eight sleeping here any one night.  If you are celebrating Thanksgiving, I hope your holiday is a marvelous one.

Published by Anne Mehrling

I'm a retiree who loves to write about life in the mountains of North Carolina.

Published

41 thoughts on “Thanksgiving Begins”

  5. You two have got it down with your airport pick-ups. I’m impressed, you make a fine communications hub. Also, a “snacky supper, followed by pie” might be the best kind of meal ever. Yum.

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  7. Grand time ahead.Pie and all will be a funfilled time I am sure.
    Now …about those roosters….Are they real? as in stuffed or artisticly made.? I thing roosters are beautiful. We once had one that was outstandly beautiful but was so bad we threw him out of the hen pen…..something got him…never knew what and never found any remains. Kinda sad.

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    1. The roosters were not real. Some of the tail feathers moved with the air currents. We didn’t pay much attention to the décor, since we had just picked up Nathaniel. Would you agree that means we have to go to the restaurant again?

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  9. I love that your pies have no rules. Sometimes pie, especially when you don’t have it often, is most appreciated for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Your pumpkin pie did not have a crack in it. So jealous! I’m making apple pie this year. My husband does not like pumpkin and no one else cares as long as there is pie.

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  10. I can’t believe Nathaniel is so grown up and so handsome (although he has always been good looking). Do you all still come to Tennessee occasionally? Cousin Jane Maclin Moore

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    1. Hello Cousin Jane!!!! Thanks for identifying yourself. I haven’t been to TN in quite a while. After my parents died, we still visited John’s uncle in Memphis, but he is dead now, too. Nathaniel is 6’5″, so we look up to him!

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  11. THE MIRROR
    You walk in the house from outside and the blowing wind and look for the mirror that’s hanging within.

    If you’re five-foot-one no reflection of self can be found, of course not, you know, Nathanial’s in town.

    On each new arrival in Maggie Valley, he raises the mirror way up high, now he can stare and see himself, eye to eye.

    It’s a ritual on arrival and departure to, it lowers on leaving and the visit is through.

    The family will gather this Thanksgiving day, but only a few are able to say, I got a look at myself in the mirror today.

    Enjoy each other, we blog, we chat, I call you my friends, the mirror will lower when the holiday ends.

    All will depart when the holiday’s done, but I’ll bet neighbor Logan shall come for some fun, most likely for checkers and a game to be won.

    We walk together down to the creek, you share with us all, what you do each week. The Mirror is special and brings smiles all around, your friends on WordPress know Nathanial’s in town.

    Thanksgiving brings joy to those eating the feast, to the Mehrling family, I wish you peace.

    Happy Thanksgiving from the Roster and the Mrs.

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    1. How delightful! Thank you very much! I’ve copied and saved this so I can print it. We are going to read it aloud at a meal tomorrow, probably after John’s sister and husband arrive. Everyone is going to enjoy it so much.

      John and I hope your whole family will have a blessed Thanksgiving. Thank you again for this very special poem.

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    2. We had the reading, and everyone loved it. Nathaniel’s mother will read it on the blog, but I must send it to his dad. Logan’s mother would get a kick out of it, too. Many, many thanks for this lovely poem.

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      1. You are most kind my friend, Thank you. 2 pumpkins, 2 Shoo Flys, (dry variety), 2 Apples completed. Off to daughter Kathryn’s 3.5 miles, for the gathering tomorrow. Enjoy your crew tomorrow, peace and God Bless to all.

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  12. THE MIRROR
    You walk in the house from outside and the blowing wind and look for the mirror that’s hanging within.
    If you’re five-foot-one no reflection of self can be found, of course not, you know, Nathanial’s in town.
    On each new arrival in Maggie Valley, he raises the mirror way up high, now he can stare and see himself, eye to eye.

    It’s a ritual on arrival and departure to, it lowers on leaving and the visit is through. The family will gather this Thanksgiving day, but only a few are able to say, I got a look at myself in the mirror today.

    Enjoy each other, we blog, we chat, I call you my friends, the mirror will lower when the holiday ends.
    All will depart when the holiday’s done, but I’ll bet neighbor Logan shall come for some fun, most likely for checkers and a game to be won.

    We walk together down to the creek, you share with us all, what you do each week. The Mirror is special and brings smiles all around, your friends on WordPress know Nathanial’s in town. Thanksgiving brings joy to those eating the feast, to the Mehrling family, I wish you peace.

    Happy Thanksgiving from the Roster and the Mrs.

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  13. Pie for breakfast is a great idea! I would definitely allow my grandkids to do it if they wanted. your grandchildren look happy and healthy. They obviously enjoy spending time with you. I am making the same 2 pies as you did for Thanksgiving. Not in charge of the dinner this year. My youngest son and his mother-in-law are doing most of the cooking, which suits me just fine!

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        1. Once I made two pies and a pumpkin cheesecake for the family Thanksgiving. We came down on Thursday morning and found mice had nibbled both pies. We threw them out, and I made two more before playing the organ for the Thanksgiving service. That was the most excruciating holiday surprise. It all ended well, though.

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  14. I like the mirror moving routine – it is fun and a great way to welcome Nathaniel back. He looks happy as does Lise to be there and how nice to have so many family members home and in the fold. Were those real rooster mounted on the wall or just fake ones as they look real to me. Your pies look lovely in their matching dishes and pie for breakfast – why not? They are enjoying their special treat made lovingly by you.

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