As Thanksgiving approaches, I (Amy) find myself reflecting on how different this holiday looks now compared to when I was a kid. Back then, my only job was to roll out of bed, show up, eat incredible food, enjoy my family, and take a nap. Life was simple, and it was wonderful.
I was blessed with incredible grandparents, and my aunts and uncles were just as amazing. Truly, the only “complaint” I remember was my grandpa’s reaction to my Auntie Joyce’s grape salad — a dish I loved, even though he insisted it didn’t belong anywhere near the Thanksgiving table. My grandpa was a plain meat-and-potatoes man, but with time, I learned to appreciate all the creative dishes Auntie Joyce made with such love.
Fast-forward to today: things look very different. Marc and I live in California, and our families are scattered across states and even countries — some of which don’t celebrate Thanksgiving at all. (England, I’m looking at you!)
Now that I’m the one cooking instead of the one napping, I appreciate my grandmother and aunties on a whole new level. As I write this, I picture my dining room table filled with the loved ones who are no longer with me. Sometimes I whisper toward heaven, “Grandma, you made this look so easy.”
And honestly? This season brings a swirl of emotions. Things aren’t the way they used to be. But I’m learning it’s okay to feel sad and grateful at the same time. Both can exist together. The memories I carry are precious, and they sit gently in a protected place in my heart.
If you’re silently missing someone this year, I encourage you to put words to those memories. Share them with someone who will honor the story, the person, and the gratitude you still carry.
Be thankful for your reality this Thanksgiving — not the imagined one, not the ideal one, but the real one. There is always something to be grateful for, and gratitude is one of the best emotional resets we have.
So today, I say:
Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa. Thank you, my dear aunts and uncles.
I picture you seated at a table high above, laughing with cousins who’ve gone before us. I am so grateful for the love and joy you poured into our family. It’s a blessing to look back and remember.
And whether your table is full, quiet, joyful, or bittersweet this year, I pray gratitude finds its place at your side.
Wishing You a Meaningful Thanksgiving!
Amy & Marc
Kay & Milan
