Thankful

After the blessing and before the feast, my Mom wanted us to go around and say what we were thankful for. Of course, everyone mentioned they were thankful for being there for a meal with family. Then some folks mentioned they were thankful to know those who had passed. It was getting pretty sentimental. When it got around to Lucy, I asked her, "What are you thankful for, Lulu?"

She smiled and looked away, a sure sign that she would dodge the question. I was about to prompt her to say something when she yelled, "Hot dogs!" and took off running.

It was a great moment when we all could chuckle and blame the misty eyes on a good laugh instead of the pain of missing the dearly departed and the other emotions that aren't so deeply buried that reveal that we would all be seriously up a creek without each other.