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Thanksgiving
Nov. 22nd, 2007 11:08 pmThanksgiving for me growing up meant going to my dad's parents house for dinner. The food was good, but more important were the people and the conversation. Since I've moved away, I've spent Thanksgiving away from Easton only three times before this year. Each time we would have the usual food, but the gatherings were small and it just did not feel like the real thing.
This year, though, we were invited to Thanksgiving dinner by our Baha'i friends from a couple streets over, and it was a lot of fun. There were 12 people there, there was plenty of conversation, and we even brought the baby to dote over. Given that we can't always have Thanksgiving at my grandparents' house (they not possessing the philosopher's stone and all that), it's nice to know that there is an acceptable substitute.
I was worried that, it being a group of strangers, I might want to sneak out from time to time to recharge my introvert batteries. But I've discovered that a baby gives you an automatic out: if you want a stretch, simply pick up the (fussy) baby and walk her into the other room. Walking puts her to sleep, and one gets a break. Very clever. :) Miriam got lots of compliments, about how she was such a well-behaved baby, and given that she did actually cry and fuss a couple of times while we were there, one wonders just how bad other babies get. :) So in honor of Thanksgiving, a prayer of thanks for Mira: for her health, her strength, her temperament, her wide-eyed curiosity. And a prayer of thanks for Jen, who has such loving patience with her and with me when I don't feel like getting up at 3am to change a diaper (and tell her so).
This year, though, we were invited to Thanksgiving dinner by our Baha'i friends from a couple streets over, and it was a lot of fun. There were 12 people there, there was plenty of conversation, and we even brought the baby to dote over. Given that we can't always have Thanksgiving at my grandparents' house (they not possessing the philosopher's stone and all that), it's nice to know that there is an acceptable substitute.
I was worried that, it being a group of strangers, I might want to sneak out from time to time to recharge my introvert batteries. But I've discovered that a baby gives you an automatic out: if you want a stretch, simply pick up the (fussy) baby and walk her into the other room. Walking puts her to sleep, and one gets a break. Very clever. :) Miriam got lots of compliments, about how she was such a well-behaved baby, and given that she did actually cry and fuss a couple of times while we were there, one wonders just how bad other babies get. :) So in honor of Thanksgiving, a prayer of thanks for Mira: for her health, her strength, her temperament, her wide-eyed curiosity. And a prayer of thanks for Jen, who has such loving patience with her and with me when I don't feel like getting up at 3am to change a diaper (and tell her so).
