Thanks

As part of The Spin Cycle week of thanks, I had planned an incredibly moving and heartfelt post about all the things in my life I'm thankful for (you'd have laughed, you'd have cried). But I'm afraid that all I can think of now is how incredibly thankful I am that I have not vomited on the turkey, passed out in the sweet potatoes or lost my child into white slavery. I will explain...

On Monday, Aunt Grace (who is visiting from New York) and I went shopping for all the Thanksgiving dinner food. After hauling all 22 bags in from the car, I started feeling a little...odd. Hmmm. I seem to have something going on with my sinuses and to be sneezing in terrible fits. And I'm a wee big weak. And dizzy. Too much to do, must ignore this. Take the Claritin. Take the Musinex. And...carry on. Cook, clean, arrange.

Then as soon as I get Jude to bed, something new develops. Nausea. Well this is interesting. I lie down. More nausea. Then I vomit. And vomit. And vomit. All night long. Every two hours. Nice, right? By morning it has worked its way through my body and comes out the other end. I know, TOO MUCH INFORMATION. By Tuesday morning, I am officially empty. And interestingly, still sneezing and with a sinus infection. Good Lord, what is this fresh hell?

So I try to rest and rehydrate as best I can on Tuesday. But I still had to drag my pathetic ass out of bed to make the Mashed Potatoes with Sage and White Cheddar and the Garlic Artichoke Dip. NOTE TO MY THANKSGIVING GUESTS: In the hopes that I don't Typhoid Mary you all, I have been obsessing over the antibacterial soap. So...cross your fingers. Thank God for Aunt Grace, who spent the day ironing all the linens and polishing the silver. Excellent.

Wednesday I feel somewhat better. Not vomiting. Still sinusy. Weak as a puppy. However, I put on my most pathetic and comfy sweat pants and ratty tank top (heatwave in Los Angeles) and get to work. Sweet Potato Casserole? Check. Homemade Cranberry Sauce? Check. Peas/Pearl Onions/Bacon? Check. I feel like hell, but I sort of put myself on autopilot and soldier on. I'm just starting on the stuffing, when I suddenly remember that I need to pick Jude up at school at 11:45 because it's a half-day. It is now 12:02. Oops. I grab my bag and dash out, screaming to Aunt Grace to turn off the sauteing onions and celery, and break about 20 traffic laws getting to that school. I pull up, and the folks manning the pick-up line call out Jude's name. No Jude. They call again. And again. The child is not there. I park the car and run in. Nowhere on the playground. Not in the after-school program. Not in his classroom or in the principal's office. I rally a teacher and a gang of 4th graders to help in the search. The child is not at the school.

At this point, I was running like a maniac, most certainly scaring small children. Remember that I'm wearing the pathetic sweat pants and ratty tank top. With no bra (and these puppies need a bra). Or makeup. And fuzzy slippers. Because I didn't think I'd be running around the school. While my irrational mind is telling me that my one and only is the next subject of an Amber Alert, my more rational mind realizes that it's a good bet that another parent has given him a ride home, and has probably called me on the cell phone to tell me this - only in my rush to leave the house I left my cell phone sitting on the kitchen counter.

So I drive back home to see if he's turned up there or if somebody's left me a message, and of course he's there with Aunt Grace, safe and happy, but I rush in like an insane person and burst out balling and hugging him. He gives me what he calls "a million kisses" so I feel better. Turns out our neighbor, who has a child in 7th grade saw him waiting, and gave him a ride home. Thinking they were being kind. Arrggh. They're such nice people, that I really don't want to get mad at them. But come on, you just can't take a child with you in your car without their parent knowing it, or informing anyone at the school. No matter how late their sick, delinquent mother is.

I manage to carry on. Cornbread stuffing? Check. Stop to kiss my child until he tells me to please stop? Check. Mr. Turkey in his brine? Check. Allow my child to play Super Mario Brothers all afternoon despite it not being his "day" because I'm being overindulgent? Check.

So here it is, Thanksgiving Day. I am feeling better. Friends and family arrive in 4 hours. Bird has been thanked and then put in the oven (I always like to thank the poor guy). Grandma's Chocolate Cream Pie is made. Table is set with all of Mama's china and crystal and silver. Flowers arranged. 3 1/2 hours until I get my bourbon. Because I believe that bourbon is medicinal. Finally, a little time to reflect before I go in and try to make myself look sort of semi-presentable.

I have MUCH to be thankful for. I was able to sit with my child this morning and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. When Santa made his dazzling annual appearance, I suddenly remembered all of those years when I was childless, and I daydreamed of being able to share this very moment with a child of my own. So thank you Lord Jesus for entrusting this precious soul to my care. And thank you for entrusting my soul to the care of my dear, much missed parents, Roy and Dorothea. Thank you for a husband who makes me laugh every day, even when I want to whack him with a frying pan. Thank you for an abundant number of friends and family who always "have my back". Thank you for my church and the peace and strength it gives me. Thank you for bourbon. Thank you for gravy. Thank you for all of you who take the time to read my ramblings and share your lives with me as well. Thank you for Claritin. Thank you for the enormous plate of leftovers I plan to eat for breakfast tomorrow. Thank you for the Ativan I found in the bottom of the medicine drawer that helped me to get through yesterday. Thank you for watching over us all and keeping us safe and well. 

"O Thou who has given us so much,

Mercifully grant us one thing more,

A Grateful Heart" - George Herbert

Oh, and Hook 'em Horns! Beat the hell out of those Aggies!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Comments

[Sprite's Keeper]

Oh, that would have been terrifying for me if someone had picked up Sprite! I can only imagine the fear!
So glad you're feeling better and thanking the bird? Had to giggle, but I loved it!
You're linked and I need to go to bed. I have to be up at 2am to bust some doors..

[Jan]

Oh, good heavens woman! I was sitting on the edge of my seat throughout this entire post. I'm so glad you're feeling better.

"Thank you for a husband who makes me laugh every day, even when I want to whack him with a frying pan."

That made me laugh, but I couldn't have said it better myself.

[Keely]

That first part made me sneeze, but laugh, and then the last part made me cry. So - you still accomplished your original mission.

Must remember to thank the Christmas bird now.

[Becky]

Oh goodness. I am so sorry you were sick! And you somehow managed to pull it all off! Unreal.

And amen, yes Lord, thank you for gravy.

[Pseudo]

I believe this is my first time here. What a well written post, especially considering it was written after illness and Thanksgiving (with China and silver!).

Nice to meet you and glad you are feeling better.

[Sarah at themommylogues]

Oh my sweet goodness. What a week you had!