The Family Times
Thanksgiving edition
Just for fun, my five replicated their pose from a long ago photo. Yes, it was fun—so why does it make me cry? Much as I love who they’ve become, I miss who they were…
MUSIC: SEXTET FOR CLARINET, STRINGS AND PIANO II. ANDANTE by Sheridan Seyfried
This may be my favorite piece that Sheridan has ever written. This second movement of the sextet is especially dear, because the main theme (starting at 3:17) is the music to which Ya-Jhu walked down the aisle on their wedding day.
What makes a family? As we gather together on Thursday around a roasted turkey and trimmings, we might see our family of origin, our children and grands, our blended family, our friends, our neighbors. All so dear to us.
But we’re not checking birth certificates (at least I hope not!) Because the bonds we share transcend those. We are church family, work family, school family, garden and book club family. As I fondly recall meals prepared and shared downtown at Unilu’s “Feast Incarnate” on the UPenn campus, and so many other places where our unhoused brothers and sisters are fed, we are family there too.
This lovely Tom Chapin song tells of a “green and growing family tree.” May it be ever so.
SONG: FAMILY TREE by Tom Chapin
BACK HOME AGAIN IN INDIANA…
Looking back at previous editions of E-Musings, I fear I have shortchanged my beloved hubby. His family would fill a stadium (well, a very large room anyway). Though they have largely scattered, a good number remain in Indianapolis and environs. Steve’s parents, my in-laws, were each one of 10 children. Steve has over 65 first cousins. My tiny NY tribe pales in comparison. As we get older, we are drawn to reconnecting with our relatives, and Stevo is no exception. Our Rose is planning to take her dad “back home again” to Indianapolis in the Spring, to visit Bradbury Street and Garfield Park and other memorable people and places of his childhood. So excited, for both of them!
VIDEO: MAÏJA
Love the animation is this sweet short movie (and the simple story of a little girl waiting for her father to come home from the sea.)
A COUPLE OF THANKSGIVING RECIPES…
Two of the dishes that will be part of our Thanksgiving…we look forward to feasting together…
ROASTED DATES STUFFED WITH GOAT CHEESE
BAKED OYSTERS WITH COLLARDS AND CAJUN HOLLANDAISE
…and relaxing after!
A POEM OF THANKSGIVING BY BILLY COLLINS
This is such a beautiful poem! Can I too fall in love with the everyday details of my life?
AIMLESS LOVE
This morning as I walked along the lakeshore,
I fell in love with a wren
and later in the day with a mouse
the cat had dropped under the dining room table.
In the shadows of an autumn evening,
I fell for a seamstress
still at her machine in the tailor’s window,
and later for a bowl of broth,
steam rising like smoke from a naval battle.
This is the best kind of love, I thought,
without recompense, without gifts,
or unkind words, without suspicion,
or silence on the telephone.
The love of the chestnut,
the jazz cap and one hand on the wheel.
No lust, no slam of the door –
the love of the miniature orange tree,
the clean white shirt, the hot evening shower,
the highway that cuts across Florida.
No waiting, no huffiness, or rancor –
just a twinge every now and then
for the wren who had built her nest
on a low branch overhanging the water
and for the dead mouse,
still dressed in its light brown suit.
But my heart is always propped up
in a field on its tripod,
ready for the next arrow.
After I carried the mouse by the tail
to a pile of leaves in the woods,
I found myself standing at the bathroom sink
gazing down affectionately at the soap,
so patient and soluble,
so at home in its pale green soap dish.
I could feel myself falling again
as I felt its turning in my wet hands
and caught the scent of lavender and stone.
BLOG PREVIEW: A Matter of Semantics
I have some fun with all the various“nyms”—anto, syno, meto, acro, etc. Gotta love that English language of ours!! (and Happy Anniversary “Working Title”— my first blog entry was exactly 13 years ago, and this one is number 668!!)
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
This Thanksgiving, I appreciate every one of YOU, for reading and supporting “E-Musings.” Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!