Thanksgiving, The time of year we associate with, and often anticipate, going back home for family gatherings. But it’s 2020. and, due to COVID-19, many of us are being cautioned not to travel or gather.
Perhaps that’s what at some level inspired my next-in-line sister’s intriguing idea — “Think back to a room in a house you’ve lived in and look through a window in that room. What do you see?”
“I’m w-a-a-y ahead of you, ” I replied. “Or more accurately, way before you. Back in my junior year of college, I wrote an essay I titled, ‘Through the Window of Time.’
After pawing through boxes in the storage room yesterday I found the college magazine in which that very piece had been printed. It describes my reflections and introspections (therefore the “you” in the essay) after a visit home for Thanksgiving break. Following are excerpts, much shortened sentences and paragraphs.
“The smell of burning leaves, the steel gray sky of suppertime…bring you back home to a weekend that was once an everyday and every night experience. You reach the door, open it, step inside to see your family all waiting tor you. ‘Supper is ready,’ they tell you, ‘and there’s a special dessert cause you’re home’ …
“You look around the table and see your family, not as the familiar faces that have provided love and security and a target for grief and gripes for eighteen years, but as people.
“You see a man and a woman, once young, who had to learn to live and love together. You notice that they are so much older than they were when you left, and you seem to sense their worries, even though they talk about nothing but you and how you are. You know the pride they feel for you. You want to tell them of the pride you have for them, but you can’t.
“There is a desire to hug them and to hold onto them and to that part of life that won’t be yours much longer, that you feel slipping away faster and faster, especially as you try to hold it tight. Something, however, maybe your culture or civilization which guards against emotion, holds you back, and all you can do is say ‘thank you,’ when you’re you’re handed your piece of chocolate cake.
“You see, also, over your piece of cake, two little girls who will someday be bigger and smarter than you are, even though once you were four years older, five inches taller than they, and once got to stay up later. Sitting next to his daddy is the small boy who is just now learning to tie his shoes, but who someday will probably marry some girl you’ve only met once or maybe twice.
“You see these faces now, but you know and fear the letters and yearly trips of a later time. And you know that one family now will be replaced only too soon by many families.”
What I once saw through a window of time I now see through the lens of a telescope.
Copyright ©️ 2020 by Patricia Schudy
A very heartwarming narrative about fond memories. Being an only child, I can’t regrettably say that I ever had such an experience for Thanksgiving. But I know it was always a fun time. Keep up the wonderful work you’re doing with this website. Love and prayers, Jack
What timely and Mouth-watering wisdom…..thank you,Pat
You are an excellent writer Patricia. Very descriptive. Saw it in my minds eye. Brought tears to my eyes. You are extremely talented!
Thank you for sharing yourself.you are still Pat then in my memory. Tall, vibrant, smiling, and kind. Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for being YOU.
What I beautiful reflections this Thanksgiving time. Thank you for sharing..This is , for sure, unprecedented times and a Thanksgiving to remember.. Despite the circumstances in our world today on so many fronts, let us embrace this Thanksgiving with yes, being thankful, for there is much to be grateful for.Let us be careful and purposeful. Let us be prayerful for our world, our country or community, our friends and family. And lastly let us be joyful and hopeful in knowing the Master Designer and Creator is in all our experiences .
Prophetic.
Really liked the glimpse into many decades past, Pat
A beautiful essay.
That was beautiful and brought me back to those long days ago. I loved how descriptive you were and I felt some of the same feelings that you did as I went there with you. It was good to be special and returning home at Thanksgiving.
I’m glad you found your article and I’m glad you posted it.