Next week we celebrate Thanksgiving. At this point I have no plans but it will all come together. How Thanksgiving has changed down through the years.

We used to go to Grandma Swanson’s but when she no longer could do it, we went to my sister-in-law’s. I always worked right up through Wednesday, so I had little time to prepare.

One year we had a Peterson reunion. That year I had Dick’s cousin, his wife, and two children at my house. I made pies. Of course, I used lard for the crust. Laurie wondered how I got it so flaky. I hesitated to tell her it was the lard. I even made some pie crust cookies out of the extra dough. She enjoyed them too.

I think we served venison the night before that we cooked on the grill. She loved that too. If I recall, they had venison at the first Thanksgiving so we were right in the ballpark there.

It was fun to have the whole family together. We met at the Frewsburg Fire Hall. At least that way no one had to do all the cleanup. We did it before we left the hall.

After Grandma no longer entertained for the holidays, we split it up. Everyone chipped in with the cooking so it was not too bad. We all had things we liked to cook. Grandma usually made pies. I made sweet potatoes and a relish tray. I also made the cranberries. My family liked the raw type with orange and sugar. My sister-in-law cooked the turkey and made the dressing. We always had plenty to eat.

Since Dick died, I have been going with one of the children to their in-laws. I always feel like the proverbial fifth wheel.

I do not really fit in although everyone is pleasant enough.

While Don and I were married the children and their families usually came on Friday or Saturday. We were alone on Thanksgiving Day and that was fine with us. We enjoyed our day of rest.

With my granddaughter in North Carolina, she will not get home. Both she and her fiance will have to work. My grandson should be around. We have let the whole family thing go because there are just too many of us to get together at anyone’s house.

I have never had to go hungry. We did not always have the best dinner, but we had food. I really feel bad for the young families. It must be hard in these times to stretch the dollar.

We have had some strange Thanksgiving dinners through the years. When I cooked on the wood stove, we had pork chops since I knew I could keep the oven hot long enough to cook them. You do what you have to do!

My son has been on call over Thanksgiving. He told me he had a hamburger one year. My daughter and her husband did not make it home one year for either Thanksgiving or Christmas. Iowa was just too far away.

The most important part of Thanksgiving is the giving of thanks. We all have so much to be thankful for. If you have a bed to sleep in, food on the table, and your family with you, you are blessed.

I often think of the people in my life who are gone. I am thankful for the part that each played in my life. They say that no one comes to your life without a purpose. I have learned from each person who came my way.

I had a mother and grandparents who nurtured me in my early years. I had extended family who were around often. Once I married, I had another family to interact with. We divided our time so that we spent holidays with all of them.

My church family has played an important part in my life. In fact, that is where we got our best friends. There was a group of adults that got together and had a lot of good times.

We took turns hosting the group. Friends are important. For you who are young parents, please be aware of your children’s friends. They will influence their lives.

As you look forward to that big turkey dinner, be sure to stop and count your blessings. There is a song that says, “Count your blessings, count them one by one.” Take time to do that!

Ann Swanson writes from her home in Russell. Email her at at hickoryheights1@verizon.net.