Memories...

If I close my eyes tightly enough, I can still see it: my Aunt S's kitchen, circa 1983 or so. There are rustic wooden cabinets, black metal hinges and flooring of questionable origin and installation. It's crowed in there, between adults and kids and random pets.

There's music in the background, faintly playing: Chuck Berry-meets-Hank Williams-meets-Billy Idol...meets accordion. This means that Uncle B is revving up for our annual tradition: old folk songs, hymns, Christmas songs...wherever the mood takes us. This happens sporadically throughout the day, and remains one of my favorite childhood memories. Make no mistake: the ability to play the squeeze box is a gift, not a curse. I miss hearing it.

Mum and Aunt S are bustling around the kitchen, mashing potatoes and squash and turnip. They are de-lumping gravy, slapping hands away from desserts, offering stuffed celery and crackers instead. They alternately dance and laugh, stopping long enough to yell at us kids to 'go outside and play'. The fact that it is -12 outside is lost on them.

We sneak down cellar instead. We may or may not listen to rock 'n' roll, smoke cigarettes (only Billy and Timmy) or play board games. Rather interesting memories involve "Blackie", the black lamb that we fed because he really WAS rejected by the herd (we ate him at Christmas! Aaaah!) - and the time Billy decided that "Peyton Place" made excellent teaching material and read it to us while we waited for lunch to cook. Our mums were NOT happy with this, once they found out. Twenty plus years later, I still find it funny.

Things have changed over the years. The Annual Get Togethers have moved a few miles down the road, from Aunt S's to Billy (now Bill, since he's old) and his wife's house. The house sits at the top of the hill, surrounded by trees and fields. This is exactly where he has always planned to live. I'm not surprised to see that he followed through: stubborn runs deep in my family.

All (or at least most) of the family will be there: Bill and his family, Timmy (now TIM) and his family, my sister Zoozer and her family...Aunt S and Uncle B...maybe more. It likely depends on the weather, since it's WINTER there now.

I can imagine the fun they're having. Chaos, over heated house, kids laughing and yelling. There will be cranberry sauce, watergate salad, stuffed celery, canned goods from family gardens, maybe a homemade mincemeat pie. Bill will alternate between yelling out random historical facts (unrelated to lunch or...well...anything) - and sneaking behind the shed to smoke while "getting more wood for the stove". His wife will roll her eyes, make coffee, and pretend not to notice.

Board games will be produced, coffee will be consumed, laughter will dominate. Football may or may not be watched. The same holds true for any parade that may be on television. At some point in the day, Uncle B will pull out the squeeze box...and it will all begin again. Laughter, warmth, love. Somewhere, hidden within the New Group of Cousins, will hide the rebel. When no one is looking, (s)he will corral the Others, sneak downstairs, and begin the quiet chaos that only kids can create.

Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all.