Traditions

This Thanksgiving I am most thankful for traditions. To those of you that have been paying attention the last few weeks, Yes, I am 3 weeks late on my Thanksgiving blog. My b-day is in 2 days and that blog probably wont get written till Christmas.

Thanksgiving time is probably the biggest tradition for me. We always get a large crowd up at my maternal grandparents every year. I'm not sure what the count was this year. Not as big as last year, I think we were just on the short side of 20, although if you counted all the family that came in over the rest of the weekend it was quite a lot. I don't know what that count would have been though because I was absent the weekend due to another family tradition. Hunting season!

I have said many times before that I am not the avid hunter that I used to be. I pretty much quit hunting once I moved to central Pennsylvania. I had been hunting in the same places since before I was 12. I could go out whenever I had free time, I loved it. Its not the same down here. Its not the same woods. Its not familiar. Its not part of my tradition. The last few years before my dad passed I don't think either of us got real excited about hunting. I think we only did it because that's was our time. If we were really interested in killing deer we would have been in separate places. Instead we both set in the shanty watching the fields and quietly talking until something came out for us to shoot at. When Colton turned 12, we got excited again. We were both excited to get him out in the woods and help him get his first buck. He was going to bring back the excitement that we had when I was a kid. I'm glad that dad was around that year to see Colton get his first buck. I know he was proud.

The weather this year was miserable. I took the entire week off for deer season, but Colton & Tim only hunted with me the first day, so after that I was only out about 3 hours. That's ok though. I had a blast. When I come home it is always difficult to see all the people that I have not seen in a long time. This trip I got to see almost everyone. I spent an entire day with my grandmother going through her old photo albums and scanning pictures. I spent an entire day with my younger bro & his new gf. Visited will lots of old friends. My mom & I got to visit Kraynaks and the Avenue of 444 Flags which is something we used to do every Christmas when I was little. Kraynaks wasn't as cool as it used to be, but maybe that's just because I am older. The place seemed so big back then. If you have never heard of it, that's where the pic above was taken.

I even stopped to spend some time with my dad. I don't know why but I don't usually go to the cemetery. Usually on my way out to the Moose I pull over where he had his accident and crank the country music up as loud as my factory speakers will go. I am also extra careful on my way back from the Moose, that's one tradition that I don't want to fulfill, even though it may have taken me a while to figure that one out. I am a member there now. I know dad would love it. I know his friends do. All these people I don't know treating me like they have known me for years. Telling me stories about things we used to do. I know its like re-living old times when I walk in there, bringing back good memories. It makes me feel good when I go there. It makes me realize how much he is still missed by everyone.

So many things to be thankful for this year. I am thankful for good memories even when they turn into bad memories because I know that as time goes on I will only remember the good ones. My family away from my family. Diane, Randy, Sue, Matt, & Liz. Randy is my best friend, mentor and sometimes kinda like my dad. Sue is definitely one of my sisters. They both understand me and take care of me when things are going bad in my life. Diane is the person I can tell everything to. I have told her more about me than I have ever told anyone. If I ever need to talk about something, she is the first person I go to. Since we already have established that this blog is late and its almost my birthday I am thankful that last night I ate one of my favorite meals (Alfredo) and had my first birthday cake and quite a few years. Then there is my brother from another mother, Matt & my black (inside joke) sister Liz. You two have been my best friends and partners in crime since the day we met, almost a year ago. All of you have put many many smiles on my face over the last year! I cant imagine where my life would be if it wasn't for the 5 of you keeping me safe, sane, on track and well fed. Well maybe not totally on track :) I love you guys.

It has been a great year, and I am very thankful for it.

We must all be getting a little older though, because the one tradition that we all missed out on this year was my sister Robin stealing a pie from the kitchen. Maybe she will feel up to it next year, or do a better job of passing the tradition on to someone with a little less gray hair. Not that I should talk, I probably have more than she does. :)