Autumn. Now What?

To be honest Fall/Autumn/Harvest Season is not my favorite time of year.  The local pools close and the family scarecrow is made.  The cute shorts and sandals are banished to the basement.  Out come the long sleeves, jeans, umbrellas and closed toe shoes.  Plus, football season starts which means the TV is on every Sunday afternoon.  Woo for me.

Twinkle, The Scarecrow 2013

On the flip side of this seasonal sorrow is my version of what heaven will be like.  Hopefully, St. Peter will swing the gates open to reveal a long table filled with family and friends waiting for dinner to start. Somehow we will each have the opportunity to talk with everyone without leaving our seats – this is heaven.  Since my beloveds straddle this world and the next, heaven will have to wait.  Until then, Thanksgiving is my heaven on earth.  I am so blessed to have three, yes three, Thanksgiving meal.  Even number years, we travel to southern Wisconsin to see my husband’s family.  Then we travel back to Chicago for dinner at Uncle Rog’s house.  The day is filled with lots of driving up and down I-94 but worth every mile. 

The third thanksgiving meal started three years ago when I realized Crazyville was hosting Thanksgiving for my husband’s family.  He took care of the entertainment but cooking was my domain.  Revin’ Roger was only a few months old and I knew my brain was not back in the game.  The solution was a test meal and this is when Friends Thanksgiving was born.  The host provides the turkey and everyone else brings what they are famous for making.  I never knew Tom M could rock the coleslaw and Janette awed us with a corn casserole.  Jen corned desserts with homemade Pumpkin and Pecan Pies.  Amy loosened our lips with a good Michigan wine. There were other amazing dishes and the test turkey turned out edible.  I do not remember the actual action of eating just the pure joy of everyone sitting around the table talking.  We were talking so loud, we missed the kids pleas for seconds.  Sorry, short pints.

In the end, nothing can beat family, friends with good food around one table.   

What is your favorite part of Autumn?

Sharon, The Mayor