j. and I are taking off today around noon to pick up his mom and head to Superior, Wisconsin to celebrate American Thanksigiving tomorrow with his grandmother. His dad and sister already left early this morning.
Something about being in Wisconsin in general, in Superior and by Lake Superior specifically, moves me, but I can’t quite yet put my finger on why I like it so much. I am hopeful grandma I. will be recounting more stories about family members and family history about j.’s dad side of the family. She gave us quite vivid accounts on our last visit over the July 4th weekend. I think no matter who it is, I love to hear people’s reminesces about family history, but perhaps it is more poignant and captivating when it’s the family history of your future husband.
We’ll be in Superior until Saturday, when we head back, I hope, with a detour to The Farm, Uncle B. and D.’s place on County Road J, close to Spooner, Wisconsin. I’m not sure why but everytime I hear or read “Spooner” it makes me chuckle. And chatting it up with Uncle B. and D. is always good for a few extra chuckles when they talk about “fishin’ in the crick” or a lumbering bear sighting. Being with them is also always good for a dose of family history about j.’s mom’s side of the family.
Although heading to Superior for Thanksgiving is not what j.’s family usually does for Thanksgiving — usually they are eating a homemade feast with j.’s dad’s extended family here in Chicagoland — I must admit this holiday is by far my favourite American tradition, both for the food and for being with family. Someone pointed out to me at a previous American Thanksgiving dinner gathering that it’s the only time of year where pretty much every American family is sitting down to about the same meal on the same day. And I add to that, there are no religious underpinnings that drive people to do this, just a desire to gather with loved ones and to be thankful for all we have.
* I still can’t help refering to it as American Thanksgiving, probably because it’s how I distinguish it from the version of Thanksgiving which we celebrate in Canada in October. I certainly will have to continue refering to it as such to avoid confusion when speaking with Canadian relatives and friends, and perhaps one day, my children.
