"Whatever it is, it just landed on my pants"- Thanksgiving 2020

Hal uttered the above sentence while trying to figure out what he was eating during Dining in the Dark at the Gregory's, and it's a good metaphor for Thanksgiving this year, when everything was confusing but somehow still happened nonetheless.

From the Unsocial Media #givethanks Wall, here are some things we were thankful for:

Mom and Dad

cookies

wifi

parks

lemons

Andre "Ice Cold" 3000

planes

Hal and Mae are friends

Apollo

Hal

Snow

Hot Chocolate

family is 'not too stuffy'

Cats

St Lucia

John Mulaney

sunshine

Our house

veggie kabobs

comedy

meringue

take-out heroes 

The Lawrences hosted Sarah, Mom, and Rachel, and ate cinnamon roll apple pie. They also played Catholic trivia (St Francis!) and Colin passed on the stuffing. ("I just can't.")

The Thomases hosted Rachel, Dad and Kathy, and renovated a bathroom. 

Everyone played a lot of Among Us, and there was lying and murdering aplenty, as well as general familial affection. Even Mae joined in. ("I was in the hallway, and then I saw the body.")

We subverted our feelings of missing family into making an excessive amount of pie. At the Gregory's this included: 2 pumpkin, 2 chocolate, 2 lemon, apple, peach rhubarb, and berry cream. Also Claire and Gordon made an incredible Pear Gouda Dutch Baby. If you've never eaten a Dutch baby, you really should.

What else?

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From the first rumble of the RV in the driveway, we knew it would be a Thanksgiving to remember.   We had some memorable outings, but it was the pleasantness of the slow days that really were enjoyable.

Most days began with morning tea time on the patio followed by work/play/projects depending on the person. Then in the evenings we would reconvene for dinner and hangout time.  With some times a fire in the firepit, guitar by Jerry, or a Netflix comedy special.

Thanksgiving meal included 3 appetizers, ham, turkey, all the sides, and 7 pies.  Rachel and I let out a sigh of relief when dad gave the rhubarb pie a thumbs up and took the leftovers with him. Kathy made a lovely and funny turkey appetizer platter.

Virus-safe outings: trip to Anza Borrego state park to see metal statues.  Firepit on the beach (thanks Beth!). Trip to San Diego Mission for Gwen's 4th grade mission studies. 

Home projects: eject she'll sink and bamboo wallpaper.  Paint walls, install countertop, new sink, new mirror.  

Dad did all the wiring to install two new lights and a darkness sensor so that they turn on automatically.  After he was done, we had an ice cream party on the front lawn at 4:45 to watch them turn on.   There was much rejoicing.

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1. When asked, Mae said her favorite part of the trip was when Carrie picked us up at the airport.

2. Claire really enjoyed an entire day dedicated to pie-making, dinner in the dark, and getting to hang out with a sister.

3. Hal and Mae got into the hot tub every single day.

4. Watching Mae play Fortnite.

5. Learning that buffalo really, really like Oreos. Buffalo Double-Stuffalo!!!

6. Mae was in a cranky mood on the drive to the Fresno airport, which we really don't see often, which made it quite humorous, really. "I WAS HOPING FOR A LITTLE PEACE AND QUIET!!!!"

7. Hal opened a water bottle on the plane, and because of the pressure change ended up spraying about 6 people around us.

Christmas, it seems, means a whole lot more.

 I was driving home and it STRUCK me in a rapid brain spasm it’s Nov 24th it’s almost time to go get a tree oh no all the trees burned oh no for the love of Christmas tell me it’s not true.. surreal moment.  So I texted Sarah..

hey.  HEY!  ARE THEY DOING CHRISTMAS TREES THIS YEAR?!?!

She replied 

“Nope so I don't know where we're going to get Christmas tree.  So no Christmas this year either thanksgivings canceled Christmas is canceled and might as well cancel Easter.”

This hurts.  I figure I have had a Sierra Navada Christmas tree for close to 40 years or something.  I am more sad about this than the school/church loss and MAYBE as sad (for me) as the camp burning down.  It (driving/picking/paying/driving/decorating/smelling/glowing/basking) might be a top Christmas thing for me.

But then Rachel yelled at us:

“Thanksgiving is NOT cancelled! And Christmas lives in our hearts, Sarah, haven't you seen ANY Christmas movies?!”

This made me giggle.  And then Sydney suggested that we drive up and cut down our own burned Christmas tree and decorate it.

2020 style. 

The image made me crack up. We thought we could decorate it with all the burned up scraps of metal that I got from the camp. Drops of melted aluminum.  And maybe some smoking incense sticks.  

What do you think?  Creek Fire Christmas Tree?

Update:

   Even the local news liked it and did a story on it.

When You See an Emerald

 A poem by Hal Rees

Did you know that I like emeralds?

The royalty of emeralds.

It really takes it back.

I can't even hack

the best of them. If I had one

I would not give it to him, or him, or anyone

I know.

Be careful, don't even move a toe

when you see an emerald.

Don't judge on what you look at

in all those wacky books.

You should think like adults, 

who have gone to BYU

and have made pad see ew.

Even cows go moo when you see an emerald.

This is why we die-

to see the best jewel.

Not a garnet, amethyst, aquamarine, diamond, pearl, ruby, peridot

sapphire, opal, topaz, not even turquoise.

It's the emerald we want to see. 

So, prepare to see an emerald.