Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
As always, when we reach this time of the year, we have much for which to be thankful.
Yes, Thanksgiving is a most special holiday and very definitely our own American holiday. We may think more about the food than about the day, but most of us are very aware of how fortunate we are to be able to have such a holiday.
Of course, we tend to recall the Thanksgivings of the past and the large family gatherings we had. Naturally, I remember the ones we had at Ima more fondly than any of the later ones because as a child, I was reasonably carefree.
As many of our relatives as could get to the canyons usually arrived the night before and stayed at Grandmother's house. On the day itself, we all gathered around that place and spent our time laughing, talking, and playing in those canyons. The echoes resounded, both from children's laughter as well as from the adults.
Those seemed to be relaxed times because we were all happy to see each other and to spend as many hours together as possible. We youngsters did our best to stay out of the way and to try to avoid anything that might look like work. We knew we would be summoned when dinner was ready and also knew we would then have a few chores to help with, such as carrying some of the containers, being sure we had plenty of water in the house, and, then, helping to wash the dishes after everyone had eaten.
The adults sat around the table and spent the afternoon visiting — most often telling stories about their childhoods in those canyons. I really liked to listen to those because I could then try some of the tricks they had done when they were my age. Also, I just enjoyed hearing their laughter. Rarely, was a story told in its entirety without the teller laughing so hard he couldn't finish until he caught his breath.
Obviously, those relatives had great fun when they were children and continued to enjoy each other's company when they were adults.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving this year, let's remember those of the past, enjoy the present, and look toward the future. We can still enjoy the day as much as we did so long ago because we have our memories to keep us going and because we have our friends and relatives to visit with.
Let's just be thankful and be proud to be in such a land in which we can celebrate so freely. Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving.
Lynn Moncus is a Tucumcari resident and can be contacted through the Quay County Sun by calling 575-461-1952.