Holidays

I always look forward to this time of year. I start getting excited in September with the arrival of fall, my favorite season. Usually there are quite a few festivals around here starting then and it gets us in the mood to celebrate. I always try to schedule my vacation time in Sept. and October because I think it's the most beautiful time of year to be out in nature and it's not too hot to enjoy it.

There are a few festivals in southeast Ohio we like to go to each year. We didn't get to go this year because of work obligations. They are near the Chillicothe and Columbus area in the middle of Amish country. The fall foliage is so pretty up there and we enjoy driving around the area and stopping at the Amish shops and bakeries. Last year on the drive home it started to snow a bit. This was around the 22nd or so of October and one of the earliest times I'd experienced snow in the year.

November brings in gray skies and chilly temps, but also a longing for cozy evenings spent in a warm home. I'm more of a homebody in the late fall and winter. I still like to get outside though, just nearer to the house. I usually read more in the winter, as does my husband. Last year we had several weekends that we stayed at home, watching it snowing outside and reading one or two books each.

The best thing of November would be Thanksgiving. Up until a few years ago I had always spent Thanksgiving and Christmas at my grandparents homes on both sides of the family. We were sad to lose two grandmothers and my grandfather within the last few years and the family that remained had a hard time establishing a routine or traditions for the holidays. One aunt though took over Christmas Eve and Thanksgiving and does a beautiful job making everyone there feel welcome and loved. The first few years were rough for us all though as we missed them so much. All my grandparents made the holidays a special time for us by their enthusiasm for celebrating and their love. Even though our family is much smaller due to deaths and others moving away I hope those remaining, new ones who enter our number, and friends who wish to join us have the happy times that I experienced in the past.

For this Thanksgiving my aunt is hosting the dinner on this Saturday. Her daughter is a nurse and has to work on Thanksgiving. My husband is on call that week as well and might have to go in on Thursday, so this works out well for us. The past two Thanksgivings we've not really had our dinner on the Thursday for some reason or the other. My husband and I had dinner out on Thanksgiving Thursday because he was on call for work and had to go in. Actually we enjoyed it just as much since we knew we would meet up with family on another day. We'll probably do it again this year as well. The day we get together doesn't matter, just as long as we always do. Family is important and I'm realizing it more as I'm getting older and I'm losing my loved ones.