¡Feliz día de acción de gracias!

I hadn’t realized how much I love Thanksgiving until this year. I’m missing family and our traditions, though some of us Americans are preparing a feast for tomorrow night. I’ve made Aunt Margie’s cinnamon apples, and my little apartment still smells like them. This year I’m most thankful for family and friends. Those of you in the States: I miss you terribly. Those of you here in Spain: I’m so glad we’ve met, and get to share what’s turning out to be an incredible year.

Our feast!

In honor of the holiday, I wanted to share with you the poem I read with my segundos this morning -- they had to fill in the rhymes for me, before enjoying some rather crumbled but still tasty chocolate chip cranberry cookies, which they probably now think are traditional Thanksgiving food.

“Thanksgiving” by Edgar Guest

Gettin' together to smile an' rejoice,

An' eatin' an' laughin' with folks of your choice;

An' kissin' the girls an' declarin' that they

Are growin' more beautiful day after day;

Chattin' an' braggin' a bit with the men,

Buildin' the old family circle again;

Livin' the wholesome an' old-fashioned cheer,

Just for awhile at the end of the year.

Greetings fly fast as we crowd through the door

And under the old roof we gather once more

Just as we did when the youngsters were small;

Mother's a little bit grayer, that's all.

Father's a little bit older, but still

Ready to romp an' to laugh with a will.

Here we are back at the table again

Tellin' our stories as women an' men.

Bowed are our heads for a moment in prayer;

Oh, but we're grateful an' glad to be there.

Home from the east land an' home from the west,

Home with the folks that are dearest an' best.

Out of the sham of the cities afar

We've come for a time to be just what we are.

Here we can talk of ourselves an' be frank,

Forgettin' position an' station an' rank.

Give me the end of the year an' its fun

When most of the plannin' an' toilin' is done;

Bring all the wanderers home to the nest,

Let me sit down with the ones I love best,

Hear the old voices still ringin' with song,

See the old faces unblemished by wrong,

See the old table with all of its chairs

An' I'll put soul in my Thanksgivin' prayers.

I might be far away right now, but in spirit I'm "home with the folks that are dearest and best."

(And Maggie - I stole your picture from a couple years ago. Thanks for having them online!)