Autumn

So I am heading out to Mexico this evening: I sort of have to, after all, I am homeless. 

But how lucky am I to have so may choices?!  Still… it is a weird position to be in. 

The end of a crazy year is drawing nearer.. a year I have looked upon as one that worked hard to shut a few doors and open some new ones. 

It is the end of yet another decade full of gifts and other surprises of life. 

I went to Thanksgiving at Kymme’s place, and it reminded me of other Thanksgivings where I wasn’t the token non-family member..

When I was a kid, growing up in Fernie, our house was always full at Thanksgiving.  The October holiday was full of the colour of autumn: the gold, orange and red leaves, the snow on the mountains.. the cold air telling reporting that yes, summer was totally over but that it would be ok.. ski season was on it’s way.   In my memory I can feel the warmth of the wood walls, smell the turkey.. hear the music. 

Then when my kids were young Thanksgiving meant I was making dinner for an enormous family.. Michael had a huge number of relatives, and they all lived close enough by that they could come for Turkey.. and they all brought something from their own kitchen.  The house would be full of laughter and children, grey hair and stories. 

When I moved to Oman I couldn’t find a turkey, but I invited any teacher that wanted to come to my place for a chicken dinner with all the fixings.  We even had live music.. Paul came and brought his guitar.  It was an odd gathering.. people who didn’t know one another but were developing new relationships.. on new journeys. 

As I write this I can hear the sounds, smell the smells.. feel the emotion of each scene of what is now past. 

Watching Kymme’s mob make their sausages from an old family recipe,  discuss stuffing, riced potatoes and other newer recipe’s, while watching the Blue Jay’s on an I-Pad.. I really felt that I was on to yet another chapter in my own life. 

Both mom and dad are gone now.  Mom just a year, almost to the day, leaving in her wake a family that doesn’t know how to grieve.

Michael and I are separated, almost ten years now, and our family was left to celebrate with newer friends and family of their own.

I left Oman years ago and honestly don’t remember Thanksgiving in Australia.. not sure they do Thanksgiving.. but I know it would be hot and school would probably be on break.. But here in Canada, Thanksgiving is definitely a ‘Thing’.  A ‘Thing’ marking a big change in season. 

So what am I thankful for?  Many things!  A beautiful, amazing world..  the people in my life that keep things interesting. 

And of course, change itself..   It is something I have always needed in my life, and I am looking forward to doing something totally new again this year!  I am entering this new decade (my sixth!) with just enough uncertainty in my life to keep things interesting.. Very interesting!  And for that, I am thankful.

So.. Mexico, here I come!