Thanksgiving through "other" eyes ...

I 'stole' this note from Sandi as she did such an awesome job of sharing our day yesterday ...

This Thanksgiving truly felt like a "real" thanksgiving! We were definitely thankful and we had spent a great time with family sharing a meal together. But our next door neighbors (originally from India) had no one to spend Thanksgiving with. Tim had run into them at the grocery store and told them they should come over and share Thanksgiving dinner but they were somewhat hesitant to 'intrude". Even though they have only lived next door since August, Mike and Lufah and Janefar have become great friends. Janefar is only a year older than Ty and they spend many afternoons playing together. Just a few days ago, their home was robbed during a daytime burglary and that has shaken them.

I decided to go over and invite them again. I asked if they celebrated Thanksgiving - and they said they were "trying" even though they really didn't understand. They had heard that you should eat turkey and so they were attempting to make one along with traditional Indian dishes. Lufah wanted me to sample some of the things she had made (delicious by the way even though I still can't pronounce them!) and they agreed to come over for a little while. They brought some of their Indian dishes while their turkey proceeded to cook. We had a great afternoon with them and Lufah asked me later, "So this is Thanksgiving - everyone comes together and brings a dish to share?" I told her that was part of it and that it was a day to be thankful for the many blessings in our life. She said that they were beginning to understand now what Thanksgiving meant. She told me to make sure I tell her what to do when things like this come up! ;-) They truly want to assimilate and understand our culture and it was also so cool to understand a little of theirs. They grew up near Calcutta and it was interesting hearing stories of their family. When they left, they insisted that they would have everyone to their house for a big dinner sometime soon.

Mom said it reminded her of what Thanksgiving was all about and I would have to agree. What we would have missed out on if we wouldn't have taken a minute and shared an invitation. We sampled some great Indian food, they shared some traditional American ones and we all shared friendship that spans cultures and even language (at times!).

I am thankful - for my family too - they welcomed them just as they would any of our family or close friends!

SO Happy Thanksgiving - I am grateful for the chance to share what Thanksgiving is really all about!

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