A series of essays….
BEING THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT
APPEARS RIGHT AND BEING ABLE TO
CHANGE THAT WHICH IS DEFINITELY WRONG
….as seen through my eyes!
By: Jacqueline E Hughes
I am thankful for and hopeful in my belief that the war between Israel and Hamas will be declared neutral and inviolable by positive political arrangements between or through level headed leaders and people who can manipulate the bullies on either side.
On November 21, 2023, via the key negotiator, Qatar, a deal has been laid out for a four-day pause in fighting and the release of at least 50 women and children held hostage in Gaza. This is a major diplomatic breakthrough nearly seven weeks in the making. As I say, I am hopeful that relief will, finally, come to the Palestinian people and the Israeli hostages will all be returned to their loved ones. I am grateful that people are still able to talk, attempt to work things out, and negotiate through common sense and logic.
I am eternally thankful for such leaders and beautiful souls as we have seen in Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the sixth president of Ukraine. His courage, love of country and her people, and mental strength coupled with unimaginable determination has fought hatred, civil abominations, and blatant acquisition of Ukrainian land for going on two years.
Unfortunately, this war has become non-negotiable through reasonable talks with key negotiators. This war has the backing of a power-hungry leader of a, largely brainwashed nation whom Vladimir Putin has placed fear and retaliation in the forefront and egregious amounts of monetary rewards for those who stand by him in Moscow. No amount of talk or negotiations or common sense or love of life on Putin’s part will resolve this conflict. We can only hope that the military aid to President Zelenskyy, Ukraine, and her soldiers will make a difference and the strength and courage of all Ukrainien people will prevail.
Sitting around the round maple, four-sided, drop leaf table in my parent’s large dining room early afternoon on Thanksgiving Day, I can still hear the tinkling of glasses and that of familiar voices vying for attention with stories and anecdotes from the past year. My fingers gently outlined the intricate tablecloth pattern in swirls of dark brown and orange on a sea of aged beige linen that helped to shield the soft maple from spills and other calamities. With a matching napkin on my lap, it was time for either Dad or Grandpa to say grace and encourage all of us to be thankful for the bounty before us.
How many early Thanksgiving Thursday mornings has Mom gotten up in the deeply shadowed hours before dawn to prep Tom, Dick, or Harry (names my brothers and I chose to call our turkey—Tom jr. If it were under ten pounds) by washing, seasoning, filling its cavity with homemade sausage stuffing, slathering its skin with real butter for browning, and placing it in the hot oven to sleep for up to five hours or so? The rich aroma would spiral up to the second floor bedrooms only to find the rest of us asleep but dreaming of the feast she was preparing for all of us.
So, by the time grace was being said by our patriarch in the wood paneled dining room, our exhausted Mom was quite anxious to bring out (George that year) the golden, plattered turkey to have Dad carve at the table, leaving most of us wishing for more than two drumsticks!
After the power-show between man and cutlery, I would help Mom bring out from the adjoining kitchen steaming bowls, plates, baskets of dinner rolls, saucers of butter, chilled sauces, divided dishes of varied pickles and olives, and a gravy boat that couldn’t sail but provided us with the fabulous homemade gravy she would claim from the rich turkey drippings in the pan. Mom was a Master Chef feeding her family of six throughout the year, but she was awarded five Michelin stars on Thanksgiving Day!
Now came the moment of truth; the time to expel from our lips the true, unhomogenized reasons for being thankful for at least one circumstance in our lives. We’d either had a whole year to think about it, or only a few minutes because, with all of the enticing food placed before our eyes, the stomach ruled over the heart at that particular moment.
Icy fear crept over me. Was I going to be totally original in my decree of gratitude or would someone else steal my thunder first and make me think that much harder? With our feast chilling more and more with every second, we began with Grandma and worked our way around the table. I knew I was being selfish, but I preferred having my turkey and mashed potatoes warm, if not hot.
My younger brother Larry’s response was all that sat between me and allowing the world to hear my words of thanksgiving. I am thankful for all of this great food and just want to eat!, he proclaimed while, hastily, buttering a dinner roll and given a ‘side-eye’ by Dad. There. He was done. My turn, finally. I am thankful for being loved by all of you, every day!, I blurted out. And, I truly meant it with all of my heart because being loved and giving love back, even as a small child, has always been my motivating factor.
Last, but certainly not least (as the saying goes), it was Mom’s turn to wrap this enlightening tradition up in a sweet, pastel bow and then get this party started. With tired eyes but a red-lipstick smile that stretched across her pretty face, she said, I am thankful for being able to pacify your hunger today and very grateful to see us all together as one family, sitting side-by-side, ignoring our differences, and delighting in each other’s presence. Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, near and far, with all of my love and best hopes for a brighter and loved-filled future….!
Copyright © 2023 by Jacqueline E Hughes
All rights reserved
