How Our Thanksgiving has changed over 52 years
I’ve been thinking about how our Thanksgiving Dinners have change over the 52 years Mrs Bear & I have been married, and I thought some of you might find it interesting.
It all started after getting Married on Dec 27, 1968, followed by an early February flight to Vietnam, 6 weeks later.
Then It was just the 2 of us in Hawaii for our 1969 Thanksgiving Dinner.
Then the following Year, it was again just the 2 of us at Ft Hood, Texas for TG Dinner of 1970.
Then after My Army ETS, we came home to PA, and for a period of about 10 years, all of the major Holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter) found the 3 of US Dining at Mrs Bear’s parent's house. All of her Siblings would be there, with their kids, totaling about 17 for Dinner.
Then the In-laws sold their house, and moved into a Mobile Home Park, so We changed everything, and split the Holidays off to those who had room for large dinners. So Mrs Bear’s older Brother ended up with Easter & 4th of July (He had a Pool), Her Sister took over Thanksgiving, and We got Christmas.
So Every Thanksgiving started with most of us going to the longest running High School Football rivalry game in the State of Pennsylvania, between Pennridge & Quakertown. The game starts at 10:15 AM on Thanksgiving Day, and we ended up at Mrs Bear’s Sister’s house at about 1PM for Turkey Dinner. There was often small disagreements there over the Football Game, but never any blood, as My Father-in-law & I both graduated from Quakertown, and everybody else there graduated from Pennridge, including Mrs Bear.(Booooo)
Then after about another 10 years of that, with Kids getting married & having their own kids, it was just too many people, so we split off into individual Branches, and we had the 4 of us at our house for all Holiday Dinners.
BTW: Up to this point, My side of the family always got together on Christmas Eve, and later in the day for Easter & Thanksgiving leftovers & Desserts.
Then about 20 years ago, Bear Jr bought a big house on 14 acres, and we started having the Dinners at his house, and it got to be the 4 of us, plus his In-laws & 2 kids for a total of about 11. Then Bethany’s Dad passed away, and the only one other than the 4 of us to show up for the next few years was Bethany’s Mom.
So now this year, due to the Pandemic, in order to stay safe, and be able to get together next year & years after, Mrs Bear & I will be having our Thanksgiving Dinner at our house, and Bear Jr & Bethany will be having their Dinner at their house, about 1/4 mile down the Driveway.
So next year, if I’m still around, it should be the 4 of us at our house, and maybe one more, if Bethany’s Mom can make it.
We have to be extra careful, because 3 out of 4 of us are vulnerable to this Virus, as Mrs Bear has a Pacemaker, I have effects of Agent Orange, including Ischemia, Congestive Heart Failure, COPD, Emphysema, Chronic Kidney Disease, an Aortic Valve from a Cow, and a large Aortic Aneurysm, and Bethany has Diabetes #1.
Nothing that we know of is wrong with Bear Jr, so he has become our Designated “GoFor”, mostly for Groceries. He wears a mask wherever he goes, including when he comes to our house, because he cares about us & anybody else he comes in contact with, where he goes.
So everyone enjoy your Thanksgiving the best you can, but please stay Safe during these trying times.
Bear
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