This par­tic­u­lar Thanks­giv­ing was far more sub­dued than Thanks­giv­ings of the past. My sis­ter and broth­er-​in-​law were on the east coast, my cousin was at sea aboard the USS Ronald Rea­gan and sev­er­al fam­i­ly mem­bers had passed away or were oth­er­wise ir­reg­u­lar­ly en­gaged else­where. I did not ex­pect my moth­er to speak the words she did at the start; I was quite tak­en aback. From my left around the table: Me, Mom, Dad, first cousin Tyler, Un­cle Roger, Aunt Lisa Grand­pa Rudy (Mom's Dad), Grand­ma Bet­ty (Mom's Mom) and Aunt Lori.