Talking about homes, the warm and fuzzy ones and the ones that people loose (and are left to wonder where they will go next), all concern me. The good, the bad and the ugly: I take it all in.
Growing up, and what I know now, is our homes create an 'expectation' for what we did or did not experience in our childhood. For example, my sister and I love to eat at big tables where family sits around and passes dishes while talking away the evening...but in our childhood, we rarely ate at a dining table because we didn't eat in the dining room.
Our dining room was used more for doing craft projects or paperwork, if the truth be told. That might sound strange to some, but I wasn't aware of any other way of life. I mean, I see the lovely thanksgiving dinner table depictions on TV commercial land like everyone else, but I rarely sat and contemplated who actually did (or didn't) do that. Well, of course, now I know that you create this experience and many times it is a tradition passed down by our elders (that in my opinion needs to continue).
With families so spread out, travel and food expensive, many new traditions are born out of practicality. Last year, I attended the wedding of my dearest friend in Tallahassee and sat under a white tent outdoors after witnessing sacred vows that brought me to tears and made my heart smile....it was by far the most lovely and meaningful Thanksgiving dinner I have consumed.
I'd love to have Thanksgiving Dinner at my home someday, but to be honest, being a single mom without family nearby and a tight budget who cooks every night, I may go out to dinner with friends, since eating out is a special occasion for us. No clean up, no left overs to tempt me, just a moment, a memory. As long as I'm with my daughters, it will be wonderful, no matter what we do. Later, I could snuggle up and watch a movie together being thankful for the roof over my head and give of my time to listen to what they have to share about life.
We might even go into the dining room and work on crafts and do a little paper art. Kinda like I used to do growing up! No matter what, I will spend the day being thankful and giving and I guess we all get to define what that means for each of us. I don't think we can ask anything else from ourselves. Happy Thanksgiving 2011 everyone, I lift a glass of eggnog to you and yours!
Carolyn Moor
Moor Alive Interiors
'Grow Where You are Planted'
Growing up, and what I know now, is our homes create an 'expectation' for what we did or did not experience in our childhood. For example, my sister and I love to eat at big tables where family sits around and passes dishes while talking away the evening...but in our childhood, we rarely ate at a dining table because we didn't eat in the dining room.
Our dining room was used more for doing craft projects or paperwork, if the truth be told. That might sound strange to some, but I wasn't aware of any other way of life. I mean, I see the lovely thanksgiving dinner table depictions on TV commercial land like everyone else, but I rarely sat and contemplated who actually did (or didn't) do that. Well, of course, now I know that you create this experience and many times it is a tradition passed down by our elders (that in my opinion needs to continue).
With families so spread out, travel and food expensive, many new traditions are born out of practicality. Last year, I attended the wedding of my dearest friend in Tallahassee and sat under a white tent outdoors after witnessing sacred vows that brought me to tears and made my heart smile....it was by far the most lovely and meaningful Thanksgiving dinner I have consumed.
I'd love to have Thanksgiving Dinner at my home someday, but to be honest, being a single mom without family nearby and a tight budget who cooks every night, I may go out to dinner with friends, since eating out is a special occasion for us. No clean up, no left overs to tempt me, just a moment, a memory. As long as I'm with my daughters, it will be wonderful, no matter what we do. Later, I could snuggle up and watch a movie together being thankful for the roof over my head and give of my time to listen to what they have to share about life.
We might even go into the dining room and work on crafts and do a little paper art. Kinda like I used to do growing up! No matter what, I will spend the day being thankful and giving and I guess we all get to define what that means for each of us. I don't think we can ask anything else from ourselves. Happy Thanksgiving 2011 everyone, I lift a glass of eggnog to you and yours!
Carolyn Moor
Moor Alive Interiors
'Grow Where You are Planted'
