I’d have to say today has turned out to be one of my most special, and most memorable Thanksgivings to date., if not the most. It feels a little weird saying that, due to the fact that Jason wasn’t able to be with us, but we lived the day up, made great memories, ate till we couldn’t, and just plain had fun! The past two years we drove to Kansas to visit Jason’s family for the Holiday, but this year we didn’t have a car big enough to comfortably travel the distance with two babies ( I don’t dare try flying with them both yet!) In the end, Jason drove solo to spend the special day with his mom, and I joined my family for a special Thanksgiving with my Grandma Gaines.
My grandmother has been in a nursing home for nearly a year now, dealing with too many battle to talk about. Either way, the battles aren’t what we’re focusing on- but her life is! It was a special treat to be able to spend another Thanksgiving with her today. I’d say it’s been close to 5 years since I’ve spent a Holiday with “Mamaw,” so I was honored to do so today. I want to tell you a little about her before I talk about her day…My Grandma was married to her “perfect mate,” my Grandpa, William Leo Gaines. “Leo,” as she called him, served in WWII, in both France, and Germany (if I recall correctly.) He made it home safely from the war to his sweetheart, bought a few trucks, and started his own trucking company. He and my Grandma had two children: Barbara (my aunt) and William LeoII (my daddy.) Unfortunately for generations of our family, William was killed in a truck accident when my Dad was only two years old. I don’t know much about those early years, because my grandma never spoke of them much, my dad doesn’t remember them, other than the stories he heard. I can only imagine the trials my Grandma faced as a widowed mother of two very young children. The thing is, she never remarried. Ruth led a successful career, and raised children who have done the same, she was highly involved in her church and community, and have raised children who are the same. She placed family higher than everything but God, and have children who do the same. Growing up I remember every Thanksgiving or Christmas at her house, filled with wonderful aromas that I can only hope to match someday. I remember her warm smile, the little trinkets around her home that captivated me (and still do!) I still remember her as “Mamaw.” The woman who was always there, but I never seemed to get close enough to. After so many years of her preparing our Holiday meals, sending us birthday cards with $5 bills, and just being there for her friends and family, it almost seems small to bring her from the nursing home back to her home for but a few hours to enjoy another Thanksgiving meal with her family. My faithful parents travel hours almost weekly to visit her, and my aunt travels across state lines to visit her monthly. I’ve come to the realization, that if this woman, who has faced so many challenges in life, can raise children and grandchildren who love and adore her, and who will drive hours to visit her for a three, to help her eat a few bites of Thanksgiving dinner, and to just be there for her like she was for us, then this woman must have lived a life worth taking note of. I only wish I would have spent more times, asked more questions, and taken more notes when I could. I obviously can’t live with regrets, but with the wonderful, precious memories. I know she may never see this, but thank you Mamaw for everything. Thank you for giving me the best Daddy a girl could ask for, and thank you for being there for everyone who ever needed you.
I’m looking forward to more visits with this inspiring lady, and hopefully more Thanksgiving dinners. Now you know a little of what I’m thankful for… Our entire family had a wonderful day together, here are a few pictures. As much as I hate it, I didn’t take any pictures of Mamaw, because I don’t know that she was up for it, in fact I didn’t take many today.
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- Thanksgiving Morning
