FAMILY FEAST

Our family Thanksgiving went wonderfully. Everyone ate until they were stuffed; then we all hit the deserts and ate some more (thank the Goddess I wore my new sweat pants!)

The holidays still don't seem right without Mom and Dad there with us, laughing at the kids antics and arbitrating our sibling rivalries. Although we had dinner at the home place, it felt like all of us were still waiting for someone else to show up. You know what I mean, that hollow place where a certain someone should be and isn't. We're working on building new family traditions but it's going to take a little more time before we get it right.

Here we are with Mom's oldest sister, Jean. From the left, Lana, Tina, Me (with the slicked back hairdo), Teresa & Donna. Aunt Jean's health is failing and I'm afraid she won't be with us much longer. Donna goes and checks on her often, takes her meals and out shopping; but Jean lives alone, is basically housebound and don't get out much. It's sad when older people's families don't have time to help them do the little things in life and leave them home alone for days at a time without a way to go or even someone to help them bathe.

When we lose Aunt Jean, it'll almost be like losing Mom again; she and Jean looked so much alike and were really close when they were both alive. Here's Mom and Jean when they were both younger. Weren't they pretty? Look at those smiles! Aunt Jean told me tonight that I looked like Mom and I consider that quite a compliment, Mom was a beautiful woman. I can only hope that I turn out to be half the woman she was. Mom's been gone for years and I still miss her every day.

I was going to get a picture of the feast we has spread but as you can see, the crowd got in the way. The girl in front is Carrie, who is expecting the latest addition to our clan. We've got the 5 sisters, 8 kids and 8 grandchildren among us; then add in the assorted inlaws, outlaws, spouses, fiances and significant others plus another grandchild on the way. Yep, we're working on building our own tribe. Who knows, we may plan on world domination when our numbers get strong enough!

Did I mention that the grandmonsters' were dancing for joy over all the goodies in store for munching? This is one of Donna's grandbabies, ain't he adorable? I predict that he's going to grow up to be a heart breaker, just like his Daddy Duane likes to think he once was! Duane used to be bad about doing those macho man poses and flexing his muscles. Tonight he was chowing down on his Mom's chicken & dressing, all the while complaining that he was developing "love handles".
Speaking of Duane, here he is in the flesh, helping to clean up the party aftermath. Nothing like a man with a vacuum, VOOM Baby! OH.......I just have to mention that at the trailer plant where he works, Duane was voted "BEST ASS AT CAVALIER". Sorry girls, his wife won't let him pose nude! Dang, Donna turned out some good looking sons.

Hope you all have a good Thanksgiving, that there are no family feuds, and no one gets food poisoning. Remember to wear your stretchy pants.......