Last year at this time I was getting ready to cook yet another Thanksgiving dinner, thinking of which chairs would be empty that year. 

And again this year, I miss my children that are scattered around the country who aren’t able to fly home for dinner because of their jobs or college classes, except this year they can’t because of a virus, of loss of jobs, or crazy college class schedules. I’m missing them yet again for the holiday, but realizing that even if they could come home right now, they can’t. 

My parents have come to my house for every holiday dinner. This year my mom was recently in the hospital and while she can still drive a few minutes up the street with my dad to have dinner, they can’t. She can’t put herself at risk of getting the virus.

It seems that we’re all spending a lot of our time complaining about this virus and how it’s affecting our holidays, but why? It’s such a negative mindset. I’m missing my family as much as you’re missing yours and I don’t want to put anyone at risk. 

Enough of what I don’t want to do. 

I’m going to focus my energy on what I can and will do. 

I will be missing my children being home, but I can video chat with them.

I will be missing the tradition of going around the table as each of us told our most embarrassing moments of the year, but we can share those stories by phone.

I will be cooking a turkey and all the trimmings, just as I do each year. My parents can’t be at the table with me, but I’m going to bring the table to them by delivering them a Thanksgiving dinner.

The tradition has changed a bit, but all that I’m grateful for hasn’t. It’s still Thanksgiving to me no matter what. The memories of past holiday dinners will always be in your heart and new memories of a “2020 crazy corona Thanksgiving” will be made. Life is a mindset and you have a choice to make the best of each and every situation you find yourselves in.

Find yourselves in gratitude. Find yourselves covered in blessings. Find yourselves together even though you’re apart this Thanksgiving.

Happy Almost Thanksgiving.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~