Lexophile in motion - Back in the days when you used to be here(A trueThanksgiving story) by Dean Masciarelli

I started thinking about Thanksgiving
back in the days when you used to be here
when you would have a seasonal apron on
spending most of your time in the kitchen
tirelessly getting all the food prepared and done
so that each and every one of us could enjoy
your raisin and pineapple stuffing with your
home made giblet gravy topped off with cranberry
and your cooked turkey was always so tender and moist
and you always made sure that you made enough for everyone

Your side dishes were delicious too
and every year you would surprise us
with a new dish or two
and not a one of us would be happy
with just one plate of food

Because each and every one of us
would always have seconds

And Mom was usually the first one who finished eating
and she would go back in the kitchen
and she would come back in the dining room
while we were all still sitting in our chairs
and then she would bring us all a piece of pie
that was topped off with ice cream
and we all had three choices to choose from

From pumpkin pie to cherry pie and her apple cinnamon pie

So none of us were ever disappointed

And when we all finally got done eating
we would all pitch in to clear the dinner table
to show our appreciation for all of her efforts that day

I will never forget all the joy and the laughter that my Mom and I shared
when she was still here during the holidays

I just wish that I could have saved all her recipes

So that I could have shared some of her cooking with all of my loved ones

But at least I have been able to retain all the wonderful memories
when I used to be able to celebrate the holidays with Mom
and that alone is the most wonderful blessing of all
because I had the opportunity to spend them with her