We are just over a week away from Thanksgiving. Spending this time with family and friends is something we look forward to all year long. It may have been a while since a family gathering.
Summer family reunion picnics were months ago and suntans from beach visits have faded. The shopping lists now are being made with seasonal favorites like bright orange yams and those mysterious pomegranates. New recipes pored over and family favorites are being passed down to another generation. The sparkling holiday dishes are coming out of the cupboards and the linen is being washed. Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel holidays of the year. Remember the Steve Martin movie, “Trains. Planes and Automobiles.” All of that is happening next week.
Do you have family traditions for the holiday? Do you go around the table at dinner and share what you are most grateful for?
Our family has a special tablecloth that each guest signs and dates with colorful markers, adds a picture if they’d like or some other artwork. The kids trace their hand prints, and each year compare them to the last. Then they are embroidered over, preserving the memories.
One year, a guest drew a picture of a turkey getting its head chopped off. Blood and all. Yup, that happened. But Grandma did a nice job turning that one into an embroidered flower.
Do the kids have their own table to sit at?
Waiting until they get old enough to get their place card moved to the “Big” table?
Do you go for a walk after dinner, or play a game of football in the yard before dessert?
Start a new tradition this year, or visit a bit longer with the older generations at dinner and ask them to share the traditions of their childhood.
Here are some great things to do in the North Beach area to make some holiday memories this Thanksgiving:
• While you’re preparing for your holiday decorating, stop by Tanglewoods Floral Boutique at 759 Ocean Shores Blvd. NW on Saturday Nov. 19. They will be hosting a Holiday Open House from 6-9 p.m. Share in festive holiday food and drinks and let them help with your decorating needs this holiday season. Call (360) 940-9150 for more information.
• Looking for some treats for your holiday meal? The Ocean Shores Bakery has a sweet deal: Stop by the bakery in the Driftwood Plaza and order your fresh dinner rolls or delicious pie. For every two pies ordered you will get a bag of fresh homemade dinner rolls.
• Ocean Shores Lions Club is offering a free Community Thanksgiving Dinner with all the trimmings on Thursday, Nov. 24 from 1-4 p.m. at the Ocean Shores Lions Club, next to Galilean Lutheran Church at 832 Ocean Shores Blvd NW. If you need home-delivered meals or wish to help, please call Ernie or Leona at (360) 289-2314.
• Spend time together shopping over the Thanksgiving weekend. The Winter Fanta- Sea, Nov. 25-27, is happening at the Ocean Shores Convention Center. Over 70 booths will feature thousands of handcrafted items created by gifted crafts people. Many items are affordable, unique and one-of-a-kind. Santa and his Elves will visit Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. Show hours are Friday from 12 to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free parking and admission. Sounds much more relaxing than Black Friday shopping!
Whichever way you choose to share traditions this Thanksgiving, why not create a new one for your friends and family. And as always be grateful for all the things that make us different and unique, and be grateful for this beautiful place we share “On the Beach.”
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