Thanksgiving Is Here Again

The 6 weeks of the holiday season from before Thanksgiving though New Year's Eve is both wonderful and depressing for me.  It is my favorite time of year, but ever snce I moved to Colorado - and away from my family - the best part of the holiday season is mostly absent for me.  Spending time with my family and all our fabulous and silly traditions is obviously not happening out here.  A couple of times since my move I have been able to fly back to the Midwest to spend Christmas with my family.  However, I have not been with my family for Thanksgiving in a long time.  The loss is even more enhanced by the fact that my in-laws don't exactly welcome me with open arms.  The loving, warm family time the holidays are in my memory aren't an option for me out here.

Last year I hosted Thanksgiving at our house and had my husband's family over.  I made everything except the turkey and stuffing, which his father, the cook of his family, made and brought over.  It was hard work and I wore my sick little body out.  This year, even if I wanted to host Thanksgiving, there would be no way.  No matter how sick I thought I was last year, this year I am much more so.  Plus, it's been a particularly rough couple of weeks.  I have had three emergency room visits just this month, and almost ended up there yesterday (I still might).  I definitely am not hosting Thanksgiving.

Dan's parents are hosting the dinner this year.  I did tell them that I would bring something over if I had the energy.  I recently harvested lots of sage from my Aerogarden (to freeze before it went bad), and sage being such a quintessential Thanksgiving herb, I wanted to use that for my if-I-can-I-will dish.  So, I got the idea to make gnocchi, and serve it with a simple sage-butter sauce.  I figured I could make a butternut squash and potato gnocchi, and that would be festive.  Plus it coud be my main dish as obviously I won't be eating any turkey.  If I can find a couple of hours in the next few days in which I'm feeling not so sick, I can make the gnocchi and just freeze them.  That way if I'm not feeling great on turkey day I will still be able to bring the dish. 

I'm glad I can celebrate Thanksgiving with a festive meal, but I do seriously miss my family this time of year.  I am very thankful for my whole family and all their love and support.  I am also thankful for all the things that keep me going, even if I am sick: things like my dialysis machine, and my medications, and my awesome doctors.  I am well aware that 50 years ago, I wouldn't even be here.  So, despite my limitations, I can only be grateful for all that I have. 

I know this post is a bit more serious than most.  But on Thanksgiving, it's good to look around and take stock.  I am very thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving eating!