Whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaa! Last week I crashed and burned worse than Kim Kardashian's marriage. To each of you, I truly apologize. Yesterday was my birthday. A monumental one, and one I'm going to write about for the next year (more details to follow). 39. I know you're thinking 39 is NOT monumental, but I'm finding it is, in more than one way....stay tuned for more (that's my way of begging you to stay in touch and follow along!).
So last night, I'm on the phone with my big brother. We get to talking about Thanksgiving, explaining once again, that I don't work in k-12, therefore I do not have the whole week off. I work in higher ed. As a staff member. I only have Thursday and Friday off - which means I will not be going home for the holidays. So instead, I am going to help in hosting Thanksgiving dinner for some college kids that can't make it home either....when all of a sudden it hit me (partly because I'd been denying the signs all along)....
Happy pre-Thanksgiving week y'all.
Much Love.
~Peace, Love, and Pie~
Momma Butterbean
So last night, I'm on the phone with my big brother. We get to talking about Thanksgiving, explaining once again, that I don't work in k-12, therefore I do not have the whole week off. I work in higher ed. As a staff member. I only have Thursday and Friday off - which means I will not be going home for the holidays. So instead, I am going to help in hosting Thanksgiving dinner for some college kids that can't make it home either....when all of a sudden it hit me (partly because I'd been denying the signs all along)....
I
AM
BECOMING
MY
MOTHER!
While this is not bad at all (my Mom was a rockstar...not really, more like a rocket scientist), it is just a realization of who we morph into as adults. My mother's home was a place for wayward lost souls. The majority of interaction occurred at her kitchen table while she stood behind the counter cooking (or at the table with her cup of coffee in one hand, and cigarette in the other). Holiday meals were not inclusive, meaning, very rarely were you related to more than 3 or 4 of the 25-30 people at the table. They were about opening your home and making someone feel safe, wanted, comfortable, and important. Because we lived in a military suburb, we always opened our home to young soldiers from Ft. Bliss, neighbors with no children, adults with no parents, and everything in between: retired military brass, public school teachers, bull haulers (if I need to explain this, let me know), and one time, a big cat (lions and tigers oh my) trainer for the circus. I KID YOU NOT!
So my whole perspective from part of my crash and burn this past weekend changed from missing my parents dearly (both are deceased) to realizing that in living the way I was raised in opening my kitchen up, I have brought back so many funny memories that it's as if my Mom is right there with me (of course I know she always is), but I am giddy with excitement about this holiday season and the memories, traditions, food, and love that will not only be shared, but created.
This is for my brother. He'll understand so much of why I'm still laughing:
Happy pre-Thanksgiving week y'all.
Much Love.
~Peace, Love, and Pie~
Momma Butterbean
And you were your mother even before her passing. I'm one of the recipients of your open, loving, and joyous home, filled with the scents of the holiday cooking, sharing stories, playing games, and feeling the love coming from you, Cookie, and your beautiful mother, with whom I was so privileged as to spend a little time in the time you lived in Alamogordo. Your home and family is and has been open to so many of us who don't have family where we are. Thank you so much for allowing me to be part of your family from time to time!
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