Thankfulness

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the year. I love the smells, the family, the pie. This year I was in charge of the pumpkin pies. My mom usually does this, but she just had her knee replacement surgery and isn't up to this task. I love to bake, so it was no problem. I decided to do a bit more and loved doing it. Here is the problem: since Mom had her surgery, she is living with her mom, Grams, which is about 20 minutes from home and Dad. R, M, and I decided to stay with Dad because this is where we stay, it's home. I felt like my parents had gotten a divorce while I wasn't looking and I had to decide between them. IT WAS HORRIBLE! Mom had made arrangements for a cleaning lady to clean the house, which was great. I truly expected to have to clean before I could even go in the house. Dad isn't necessarily messy, but it's a farm and there are dogs and cats. You can just picture a man living on his own with the animals. It reminds me of The Waltons, you know the friend Yancy who lived with the chickens only there are no chickens in the scenario, THANK GOD. We get there and all is going well, we get up and I bake, we head to Grams' house for dinner and all is wonderful, but weird. Mom is doing very well, but she has therapy she has to do and so she did. We then went back home and I felt like I had chosen Dad over Mom. The next morning is when the crap literally hit the fan. Mom's dishwasher broke and didn't wash any of the dishes that I had run through the day before, my brother's dog crapped on the floor, NEXT TO M'S BED. I was VERY P.O.ed!! R and I did all of the dishes, I cleaned up the crap, packed our stuff and headed for the door, but couldn't find Dad. I couldn't leave without saying goodbye. He was working across the road chopping asparagus, long story. Finally said goodbye and cried, because I had ditched my Dad, all the way to Grams' house to see Mom. We decided to stay with Mom and Grams Friday night. This made their day, but I felt so guilty. I don't know know how little kids get through this. My parents will be living together again in about two weeks once the knee is better. I can't go through this and I'm 32. I will never let M be a part of having to choose which one of us she wants to be with. Therefore I am thankful that my parents are not divorced, for working dishwashers, for family, and for my own home. I just love to visit my family, but I am SO happy to come home.

As thankful that I am for my three wonderful brothers, I do wonder why they say the things they say. Mom is recovering and doing super great. One brother hasn't said two words to her in two weeks because she isn't recovering at home. Another brother is doing his best with the situation, but asked her when she was going home where she belongs. The oldest brother has a wife that is recovering herself from various ailments and hasn't got a clue what is going on, but came out to see Mom while we were there. There is no way Mom could recover at home. She is currently handicapped and can't get in the bathroom with her walker. She can at Grams's house. Do they want her to do her business in a bed pan for four weeks? Why are some boys just clueless? Dad even told her to say out there because he knows he wouldn't be around as much as she needed.

Anyway, that's the Thanksgiving news. It was great, but weird and I can't wait for Christmas. R and I are hosting for his family on Christmas Eve which really is great. His family needs to get into the family routine. They are way too focused on medical conditions and what their houses look like. If they tell R one more time that he needs to do something with our house, I might just lose it.

A late Happy Thanksgiving to you and Merry Christmas!!

CDR