thanksgiving

There's way too much to be thankful for. The beauty of this earth, of the little valley we are blessed to inhabit. The sunshine and snow, mountains and winding trails. The way my girl loves to explore her surroundings, wants to "hike by myself" meaning she's large and in charge down the path, no stroller, no backpack, just a girl and her dog, stopping only to inquire about another find along the way. Hey, what's this? What about this one, mama? She moves from a hole in a dead tree to thorns on a wayward branch, bear poop, a muddy puddle. We exchange smiles and have trouble grasping when she became this old, this articulate and knowledgeable.

She would hike on and on, but we know that we have to turn around if her little legs are gonna make it. On the way out she succumbs to dad's arms and, later, to a long and snugly sleep. We cook and laugh with an old, visiting friend, ready to share our culinary inspirations with the group later that afternoon. The gathering sees a basement full of little buddies, jumping on an old mattress, hoot hollering, following one another around. Upstairs the adults feast on locally procured appetizers, a recently shot pheasant, trout caught that summer made into a delicious dip, warm brie smothered in cherry chutney from my tree. The mood is open and welcoming, bustling and light. It feels like family, though in a whole new form. These friends recently went from new to old and while we don't see each other as much as we'd like, we can all remember the time before the children, when we were new in this town, when we were carefree in such a different way.

It's a gift to be spending the day so close to home. Since college Thanksgiving has meant travel. This year I decided to change all that. It's time to start our new traditions. This inaugural thankful hike. The kid party in the basement. Guitars and singing, a fire out back, kids up way too late, all our bellies way too full.

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