Thanksgiving

Preparations for the next trip in the Class B were put aside yesterday. As we have for the last several years, Dianne and I spent Thanksgiving at my ex-wife Karen’s home in Santa Rosa, California. This may seem a little odd to some reading this blog, but Karen and I have remained friends over the years; Karen and Dianne enjoy each other’s company; and it makes Thanksgiving so much less complicated for our children and grandchildren to enjoy the holiday together. And enjoy it we did. What a wonderful cast of characters: daughter Jennifer and her husband Jon and their two children Madeline, six, and Lucas, three; son Jason and his partner Jolene; Elizabeth (thought of as a sister by Jennifer and Jason) and her husband Mark; Jon’s mother Jeannette, who lives with Karen; Jeannette’s good friend Bronwyn; and Jeannette’s sister Sue and her husband Ramon; Jon’s father, Peter; and Dianne's and my good friend, Amanda. Jolene’s parents, Dane and Peggy, visiting from Montana, and Jolene’s sister Anassa spend several hours with us in the afternoon, but didn’t stay for dinner. They and Jolene were headed to their own family get together in a rented cabin. Jason was to join them today. Elizabeth and Mark had flown in from Virginia and Sue and Ramon had come from Atlanta. After dinner, Karen’s former roommate and good friend Pete came by to join the fun and have a piece of one of the four pies baked by Jennifer, with assistance from Madeline. Everyone contributed something to the terrific meal we shared together. Jeannette also wrote and read a wonderful poem that described each of us in the most positive terms.