I don't really remember the first year. Most of 2015 is hazy for me. Mom, Dad, and Grandma came to stay with me through the holidays that first year and I think the focus was primarily on distraction.
I was still working at the college at the time, so I had a lot of time off for holiday breaks. We did some fun local activities and a very nice day trip to the Verde Canyon Railway. As far as Thanksgiving day went, Mom did most of the meal prep and I believe we ended up serving a party of about 14 (Petorella's x5, McDowell x4, Daley x3, Jason and I).
The 2016 holiday season was a little less dramatic on the whole. My parents came to stay again, but we kept it low key. We did a few day trips, but nothing spectacular. I put the magazine on hold and didn't yet have my job with the Boles Group, so once again I had plenty of time. Mom and I shared the meal prep, but it was a much smaller group. If I'm honest, I don't remember who was there. I know the Petorella's ended up going out of town, and the McDowells were there. Other than that I think it was just Mom, Dad, Paul and I.
This year was different, but in many ways, it was less disruptive. My parents didn't come to stay this year because there is simply no place for them to come or to stay. I was really worried about being alone, but it turned out ok.
I was invited to have Thanksgiving dinner with a family from my church who made me feel 100% at home. In fact, it felt exactly like it would have if I had been at home. If my mother had hosted the dinner herself, it would have been nearly identical. The home and the table were beautiful and it was clear that quite a bit of thought and effort had gone into the arrangements. The dinner was perfectly timed and everything was fantastic.
On my way home from dinner, I stopped by a friend's house with whom I have a special bond. Her parents were in town and we visited for a bit before I had to go home to bed.
The rest of the weekend was spent with the McDowell family (which is the same as saying the rest of the weekend was spent with MY family). Friday we went to Butterfly Wonderland followed by lunch and Saturday we made candies and had a slightly scaled down Thanksgiving dinner.
All in all, Thanksgiving 2017 was good. I was surrounded by people who love me and whom I love. Although I'm still not comfortable being comfortable with it, I think Brian would be glad to know that his absence played a much less prominent role.
"Remember me and smile,
for it is better to forget than to
remember me and cry."
-Dr Suess.
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