Giving Thanks at Thanksgiving

It is D minus 2, or D-2, for Thanksgiving Ops. The shopping is complete, the house mostly picked up as we prepare for the Thursday onslaught for Turkey, dressing, and all the other food that I wish we would eat once a week instead of once a year. Turkey piled high, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, gravy, and both, yes both types of cranberry sauce-- canned and cooked from real cranberries. 

 Both fried and oven roasted bird will be served-- and regardless of the emotional attachment of "pulling it from the oven", the fried turkey disappears faster. An added bonus this year was taking off the entire week and having not only Mans best friend JoeFish home but the one and only Pottamus Rex, esquire, is getting in some "George" time. That's only 2 reasons to be thankful but they carry a lot of weight because it adds to the number of males in the house. After tonight the "Booger" and Daniel will be here through the weekend. 

My Grandyoungun, tentatively named Georgia Rose, the player to be added officially to the roster in March 2014, will be counted present even though she's not quite ready for the kids table. Hers is still baking in the Amanda oven--

So, the family will fall in-- only partial this year, but still upwards of 20 people. Everyone will be talking over each other, the television will be on, discussions ranging from education to politics to sports to the lower gastrointestinal functions and its effects from poultry, beef, dairy, and fast food will ensue.

And while I won't even be able to hear myself talk in the melee, I will look all around, see the kids lined up at the kitchen table, whose Moms just minutes before helped their plates for them, hoping they might eat---and we will all "say the grace", as Wifey puts it--and I will be thankful for all these folks, the ones that aren't with us any more, for my own "Fishies", and my own trip once more around the Sun...my stomach, like my heart--will be full.

Thankfull.