I have never been really excited about Thanksgiving, except when I was a kid. There were years that we got together with Mom's brothers and their families for the Thanksgiving weekend, and those were always fun times. I got to spend time with my cousins and feel part of a bigger family than just the four of us.
Below, my family around 1969. Don't know who took the photo, but they cut Dad's head off, which is why I hesitated for years to scan it in. Also we all look a bit green. Finally I thought why not? So Dad looks incomplete and my brother is scowling but hey - Mom and I look nice! I was 7 years old here. I am pretty sure that was my Easter dress that year so that's why I am looking so spiffy. Note the white gloves...
I showed Michael the photo and pointed out his uncle and he said "If my hair had looked like that I'd be upset too!" It was the fashion in 1969, Dude... LOL
This year was really quiet because my brother couldn't come home. It's not really worth the 3 hour drive from Columbia to only spend 24 hours with us. I understand that. He works at a place that was open on Friday. My cousin Lesleigh was supposed to come over but she had to cancel due to car issues. So it was just the three of us.
I made a pork roast in the oven and a pan of dressing and cooked some fresh spinach. Pecan pie for dessert. On Friday we started the decorating.
Below right - the collection of Santas..
Lola likes to look out the french doors in the family room, and she is highly annoyed that we put the Christmas tree in front of those doors.
We had a nice weekend, very laid back, and that's okay.
I watched all ten episodes of The Crown on Netflix. It's about the early days of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Really entertaining, and well written and well acted. Now I have to wait for the second season and it's a bummer. I hate to wait..
IN OTHER NEWS
After many days with no rain, we are finally supposed to get thunderstorms tomorrow and Wednesday. Of course, I have a number of errands to do.
I have done all my Christmas shopping, online. Whew. Now on to the semi-fun part of the holiday - what am I going to bake?! I am thinking this year I want to do something savory instead of sweet. Maybe cheese straws?
After writing a series of articles for a client about lead poisoning, I no longer want to live in a historic building. Now I want to avoid old buildings.
Fidel Castro is dead. His brother has been running the country for years and it's puzzling as to why anyone thinks anything will change there. Students should study the regime though because it's a perfect example of why Communism sucks.
I watched a program the other day where an interviewer went to several college campuses and asked students basic history questions like Who won the Civil War? What country did America declare its independence from? When was World War II? What was the name of the boat the Pilgrims came on? And THEY DIDN'T KNOW!! Basic stuff. I knew these things when I was in middle school. Why are we not making students learn history any more? It's SCARY. Personally, I think anyone over the age of 18 who wants to go to college should have to sit an oral exam and know the answers to about 50 basic questions such as these, and be able to discuss the answers intelligently. I had to sit through a rigorous oral exam before I got my master's degree. You either know it or you don't when you are given an oral exam. If you cannot answer basic questions about history and civics you don't belong in college.
I shudder to think about these kids running our country in a few years..
