How do two people have Thanksgiving? Quietly! Rob cooked chicken in the Instant Pot and I made the inevitable green bean casserole and also potatoes. Two people at a long table built for four. First our daughter left and then the patriarch, Bob. We two remaining are the introverts. The missing pieces of our puzzlement are long gone and we make do with what we’ve got.

I woke up so early this morning that dawn hadn’t broken. I ate a bowl of instant oatmeal and drank the obligatory cup of tea. Sigh. Now here I am connecting with some of you that understand empty places at the table.

The silence doesn’t bother us, though, since we thrive on it. Our little girl was the spark plug in our family and Bob could be outgoing or quiet, either one. Rob and I are always quiet.

Last week when we were in the Linens Department at Macy’s, a woman saw me and said, “You’re so pretty!” And I have felt my age heavily the last couple of years. “Are you kidding me,” I asked her. She said, “Your hair, your skin!”I told her how old I was and she said, “Don’t tell anybody!”

I was searching for towels and told her that Macy’s looked like a third world country. The towels were everywhere but in order and I, yes, I, was the principal villain. Bob used to walk behind me when we shopped together, putting back everything that I had carelessly tossed in some awkward way. And Rob is exactly the same way. Embarrassed by my impulsive handling of things properly stacked all in a row. I read that in France, it is understood that people do not touch things on the shelves. Remind me not to go there.

I was not the complete cause of the disarray of the sheets and towels, etc. Macy’s doesn’t have enough staff to keep one step ahead of the customers. Just like we don’t have enough to take a family dinner photo.

When we got home, I thought, “You were in the Sleep Department at Macy’s when the lady pepped you up with a compliment.” And as we talked, she said that I was too funny! True ‘dat. After all, that is where I first met Swami Z a long time ago now. Somewhere I have the ebook of “A Guru in the. Guest Room.” And somewhere is very close to everywhere. If only I could remember that.

To all of you with little or no family, just know that holidays don’t have to be all bad. I don’t mind sitting mindlessly in front of the TV on Thanksgiving afternoon and evening. I watched parts of an old Anthony Bourdain show and enjoyed it. May he rest in the peace he failed to find here on earth. There is some, once you become an embodiment of it but I am only halfway home.

Vicki Woodyard

P.S.
I am thankful to all of you who donated to keep me inspired to keep the blog going. I love and appreciate you all.