I am learning the truth about the warning, "Firsts" are tricky when you have lost someone.
And how.
So I decided to spend this "first" Thanksgiving in NC with my sister and her husband. Karen and I drove down yesterday.
It was a good decision!
We had a really comfortable ride in the new car. I loved sitting high off the road surrounded by lots of metal - driving it.
On the way to Lynda's we drove through Chapel Hill - where we lived when Jim was in the Psychiatry Residency at UNC Memorial Hospital. A quick ride through was not nearly enough so we are going back tomorrow. This is memory research and story building - - -and I like it, even when sometimes tears are dripping off my cheeks.
Today was something new. We went to Snow Camp, NC - a place near Lynda's - for Thanksgiving Dinner at The Old County Kitchen. It was perfect. Old, decorated with more vintage Coke signs than I have ever seen in one place - - and the food - - well it was delicious. When I saw the buffet with all the traditional southern food - cooked home-style - - my mouth started watering. From corn bread, dead green beans, mac and cheese, and fried okra the food captured pieces of my childhood. I can tell you frankly - I not only over-ate - I shamelessly made a pig of myself and it was all GOOD.
Talk, my gosh we have all been talking. And I am collecting stories. Just you wait. Do you know about "butter and eggs" ? I didn't but I do now from my brother-in-law and -----
Tomorrow Karen and I are going to Southern Supreme to see where my favorite marvelous pecan pralines come from. After that we are going back to Chapel Hill.
Right now I am going to bed so I will have lots of "git up and git" for tomorrow.
2 comments:
So glad you spent the day with loved ones, enjoying the time together. Big hugs to you!
You are so wise, Ellouise. My daughter-in-law did the same thing--she went somewhere totally different for each holiday for the first 2 years. We miss her at our family gatherings, but I understand. It's not easy for me either, but she, like you, lost her life partner. I hope that one day being with us will not be painful for her, but she knows what's best for her. I am glad you are having such a good time with yous sister. Can't wait for the stories from this trip.
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