Thanksgiving Week - a long one

Hey remember me - I used to blog here!!

So it was quite a week last week. Did two things that involved getting dressed up in grownup clothes (this is anything without an elastic waist as far as I am concerned these days) and leaving the domicile.

One of course was the annual thanksgiving meal with the family. It is always a very nice occasion and this year was no exception.We traveled to Westchester, PA to my sister-in-law's sister's house, about 2 1/2 hours from here (except on Thanksgiving when it is closer to 3 hours). We have it there as it can easily hold the 25+ people and has the biggest TV you ever did see (for the football, obviously). The family is as quirky as ever (I wouldn't have it any other way) and as welcoming as ever. Although I don't really understand why I am the only person who has remained as youthful as ever over the past almost 30 years. Everyone was well behaved and we didn't have one argument about religion or politics (usually my bad) although we were teetering on the edge when the Freemasons came up. The appetizers and main course were delicious but the desserts were a mixed bag with some of them tasting very commercial - others including the pumpkin pie were homemade with love and tasted as such!!

The drive there was hard with a few bottlenecks on the NJ turnpike but the journey home was easy!!

I think that all countries should have a holiday equivalent to Thanksgiving, where no-one expects a gift, no one person is more important than any other (although it is always near Bob Longstreet Sr's birthday and no-one begrudges him a chorus of Happy Birthday to You), and the food is delicious. It really is a nice family occasion.

The other big day out was our trip to the World Trade Center memorial site. We got our tickets on about September 11 (free but you need to get tickets) and the day finally arrived - Tuesday November 22nd at 4:30. The problem was that it was POURING with rain. the good news is that the rain was coming straight down and it wasn't too crowded so umbrellas worked very well (my feet did get a bit wet but otherwise not too bad). I wasn't too sure how the site would strike me - I knew several people who had very close calls that day and it is hard to live in NYC without being very aware of the heartbreak that the day brought to many in the city. I also know that I also burst into tears when I am within striking distance of the Vietnam Memorial in DC.

Anyway, I don't know whether it was the weather or the waiting in lines but it was a completely unemotional experience for me. The site itself is a beautiful thing, the pools are spectacular the names are all wonderfully presented, the visit is nicely organized and the site very respectful to all but currently without emotion - at least for me.