It’s All Over Now
Thanksgiving’s overflowing plates are now all empty containers
Man, that was good! In fact, Thanksgiving dinner was great, as always. Like all good things, Thanksgiving with its groaning tables laden with full helpings of different food on the myriad plates, platters, dishes, cups, silverware, and gravy boats is all gone now.
It is just a dim, hazy memory of anticipation and deliverance, of boundless appetites satiated, beverages of all sorts slaking our thirst, and delicious food and desserts of all kinds totally consumed and disposed of.
Devoured in a hungry hurry, scarfed down with unseemly haste, and relished to the very edge of gluttony with every next bite.
After the ravenous horde cleaned and licked every plate of the now bare china or porcelain, emptied every single plate or overflowing container, and polished off the last piece of pecan or pumpkin pie just barely a few short hours ago, there was no going back.
Now it’s all gone, consigned to the dustbin of memories, the dirty sinks and full drainers of used dishware, the dented pots and pans and serving dishes of yesterday’s centerpieces, all magically disappeared.
Where did all the food go? Consumed, disposed of, absorbed.
Lost, scattered, and torn asunder by the appetites of a roomful of people who threw all culinary niceties and dietary considerations to the wind.
Lost, definitely gone now but certainly not forgotten, a feast that will forever be etched in our memories. It was a long time coming, and it will be a long time gone.
Lost, for another year at least, and now the lonely days of late fall and early winter are stretched out before us like so many obstacles in our paths.
Like traffic jams, distance, work schedules, or a pebble in our shoe. Whatever, however, they combine in their multifarious and intertwined ways to prevent us from returning to the divine perfection of our Thanksgiving feast.
It was all right there, but now it’s gone.
All the planning and travel preparations, coordinated with all the preparation, cleaning, and cooking, and all the menus so artfully mixed and matched to achieve maximum gustatory delight. Gone.
A sensory overload for the senses! A Thanksgiving for all seasons. A blessing, a bounty, a bonanza of food and drink all artfully prepared and presented on tables covered with linen tablecloths and fancy napkins.
The love, companionship, and support of all our family members as we supported each other in our common goal. We were glad to get there, and we were all so happy to be there.
We enjoyed the rare privilege of fine food, loving care and concern, genuine affection and concern, peace, and joy, all in the same place, at the same time together.
We shared our bounties with each other all weekend, and we never veered from our steadfast devotion to each other and our dedicated resolve to feasting the holiday away.
It was one of those magic moments, the kind that dreams are made of.
We were together, we were one for that short time span, suspended in disbelief at the richness of all our senses laid out before us.
All in all, it was the best Thanksgiving we ever had. Isn’t it always?
The best we ever had, but not the best that will ever be. We are all connected…