Thanksgiving

by Renee Hawkley

Yeah, I've got that down.
Up late the night before.
Baking pies.
Boiling sweet potatoes.
Mixing roll dough.
Making cranberry sauce.
Putting salads together.

Up early in the morning.
Onions, celery, sage, bread crumbs.
Stuffing the turkey.
Getting it into the oven.
Setting the table.
Forming rolls.
Butter, butter everywhere.
Green bean casserole.
Peeling, boiling, mashing potatoes.
Turkey out.
Baking rolls.
Making gravy.
Gathering everyone. Whew!

This Thanksgiving,
Where I'm just supposed to
Show up at my son and daughter-in-law's house, "Hang out,"
Play with my beautiful granddaughter
And eat.
Feels wrong.

But, yeah.
I'll get over it, so . . .
Bring on the gravy!