Thanksgiving Day

Thursday November 26, 1992 "Thanksgiving Day"

Chris is very busy in the kitchen all morning though she has done most everything the day before. I feel good. Frank carves the turkey for her. We all sit at her dining room table, Gary, Maria, Joe & Junior, Justin, Ric, Chris, Frank and me. I say a blessing. There is so much I want to say but I start to cry so cut it short. I always get emotional when I pray out loud. I am so happy to have this day with all my family. I'm so lucky.

The boys have fun with video games all day. The rest just visit and relax. It's been a lovely day. Chris made a great dinner. Derek is so cute and sweet. I love my family so much.

I don't remember if I cried too when Mom prayed, but I'm crying now remembering that this was our last Thanksgiving together. It was my first and last time hosting Thanksgiving for the whole family at our house. The photo above was taken on our front porch. Frank used a tripod so we could all be in the photo. First row from left: Junior, Joe, Justin; Middle row from left: Gary, Maria (holding baby Derek), Chris; Back row from left: Frank, Mom, Ric.

It's a Good Trip To Windsor

Wednesday November 25, 1992

I feel pretty good this morning. We are on the road about 9 a.m. It's a good trip, an easy ride. I even drive a couple of hours. The traffic is bad as we get near San Francisco so we go 680 and in through Napa Valley. It's still slow and go and we arrive at Chris' at 6:30 p.m. She has dinner ready for us. Derek is so big! So alert! So cute and so good! He loves everyone who'll hold him or entertain him. He's a love to hold. We have so much fun with him.

Of course, Justin, my love, is glad to see us and I get a big hug. He's getting so tall. He's 11-1/2 now and so smart. I adore him.

We go to bed early. Ric is his usual cool self. Not much to say. He just plays his computer games. Gary and Maria arrive 8 p.m.

To make it from Simi Valley to Windsor, California, in just 9-1/2 hours is good time considering the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year. A few years after this we drove to my brother's house in Simi Valley for Thanksgiving. We left home when I got off work at 4:00 and it took us 4 hours just to get through the San Francisco Bay area and 11 hours to get to Simi Valley. This is a 400 mile trip. It was a wise decision that Mom and Frank made to head up Highway 680 to Vallejo and then up through Napa on Highway 29.

I love this photo taken of Mom with 4-month-old Derek that Thanksgiving. He looks like he is really enjoying his Grandma. One of my greatest disappointments for Derek and Ryan is that they didn't get to know their Grandma Dolores as Justin did. She was a wonderful Grandma.

Thanksgiving Menu

Thursday November 19, 1992

I'm more tired, probably from such a busy day yesterday. Of course the teacher had to teach us a polka last night. That was really tiring for me. Frank has gone to carving class so I sleep in and rest until 11 a.m. I don't do much all day.

In the afternoon Frank goes to Oxnard to pick up a compressor Maria wants to give Gary for Christmas. He has shopped all over and decided this is the best one.

After a nice dinner we watch TV all evening. Frank makes a cheesecake.

I call Chris about 3 p.m. We have a great visit. She tells me the menu. She has a great dinner planned for Thanksgiving. I can't wait.

Oh no, I thought round dancing was more slow-paced and mellow, not a fast polka! I spoke with Frank just this weekend and he told me that round dancing was like ballroom dancing, so much slower. His current wife Carol had a mild stroke last year and is just now getting back into dancing, so they are starting with round dancing.

Since Mom was almost always the one who hosted the family dinners, it was a treat for a change to be able to sit back and allow someone else to prepare the food. No wonder she was looking forward to it. I wish I could claim that my Thanksgiving menu looked anything at all like the one pictured above. I have never been a good cook, and my meal preparations usually require a minimum of preparation. Cooking a Thanksgiving meal for 12-15 people was a very big deal for me, and not easy with an infant.

Packing for Our Mediterranean Cruise

Sunday September 27, 1992

Up at 8:00 but tired. The dogs have been barking alot at night lately. That really disrupts our sleep. We spend the day leisurely getting packed for our trip, preparing the house and yard for our absence and making phone calls. We retire about 10:30. Some pain today, mostly discomfort.

We have decided to go to Chris and Ric's with Gary and Maria for Thanksgiving. We'll go early so I can help Chris with the cooking, probably Tuesday or Wednesday.

No wonder Mom is tired. Besides the fact that she has cancer, she was up partying past midnight and then the dogs kept her up with their barking. Tomorrow she has a long day of traveling to Europe with a huge time zone change. I have only been to Europe twice, but I remember that I was sick for the first week of my trip both times due to exhaustion and jet lag.

Thanksgiving Day

Thursday November 28, 1991

Thanksgiving Day.

Well, I've lost 9 pounds in 9 days now. I feel worse again today. This will be a lay down day. I'm weak and dizzy and also thirsty. I'll probably need more IV tomorrow per the nurse on Tuesday.

I'd love to taste the turkey Frank is BBQing today. Maybe tomorrow.

The oatmeal goes through very fast. I feel like doing nothing today. I don't even want to talk on the phone.

I decide to enjoy some turkey, dressing and gravy. I can only manage 3-4 tablespoons but it does taste good.

Frank has alot of turkey to eat by himself!