One by one, each family arrives. Some juggling diaper bags and babies, others carrying pies or cases of drinks.
Of course, they don’t knock. There is no need. They are my family which means this is their home. "Mi casa es su casa" and all that.
The people who are already here let out a big "Yay!" and rush to the door to greet, hug and kiss everyone.
We shout out their names.
Everyone is glad to see each other.
More hugs. More kisses. (It’s the Cuban way.)
The babies are all passed around to be loved and held and played with.
We catch up quickly on the latest things going on in our lives and we talk (I don’t know how to do "small talk" – it seems, well, so. . . small. Who cares what’s on tv?!? We couldn’t enter in to a tv-related conversation anyway, because we don’t watch tv, but that’ s not important right now) and share the things that are important to us.
We play games. Scrabble and Rummikub and Boggle.
There is no room in my tiny kitchen and yet there are too many of us crowded in there, laughing and sharing the task of getting food on the tables.
We effortlessly flow in and out from English to Spanish and back.
These people are sooo noisy! (I love that.) =D
Pictures! I take tons of pictures. The couples. The families. The sisters. The cousins. The grandkids. My mom. The tables. The food. (Yay! Food pictures! =D)
We find our places and thank God for his generous provision once again this year.
After all the Thanksgiving festivities, they stay.
Adam and Al pick up their guitars. Lucy plays the piano. We sing. Yes, I know how goofy and dorky that must sound. But, I swear we do. (I will post that video soon.) 😉
We leave the clean up for later. It’s more important to spend time together.
The tables are cleared off after dessert.
"Bring out the cards!"
We play our favorite card game, Continental (a kind of rummy) for hours. Hours!
My mom always wants to play for money and we all know this, so everyone brings lots of silver. 😉
If it gets really late, someone will undoubtedly get hungry again, so we start making turkey sandwiches.
Or have more dessert.
The last few leave close to midnight.
I cannot imagine my life without them. I feel genuinely rich.
These are the people who know me and love me and think I am okay.
Amy made this video a few years ago. It shows Thanksgiving with my big, fat Cuban family in my teeny, tiny house. =D The song is from an old tv show and if I had my way, I would use it for every single video showing a family together. (I’m a total dork that way.)
Because home is where everybody knows your name. 😉
Happy Thanksgiving!
Marti,Not only do they know your name, but also your nickname! . . . it’s almost a necessity for every Cuban to have a designated “apodo” or nickname … and then … no matter how old … you always remain with the diminutive attached to your name … “Martica” and I’m sure you and your wonderful sisters are still “las muchachitas” … right? Thought so! 🙂 … can relate to that!
I wish you and your beautiful family and friends a blessed Thanksgiving Holiday!
Bendiciones de tu amiguita ~ 🙂 Melek
“God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart.”~ I. Walton
Wow, some of your big fat Cuban family looks so familiar to me….alot like some of my big fat Cuban family…Most of mine are in Georgia though:/
Pardon me for publicly pointing out an error on yr own blog, but accuracy requires a revision. The corrected version of yr stmt follows: “These are the people who know me and love me and think I am MARVELOUS.”
and I always thought the singing made us cool and the Scrabble games made us dorks . . . 😉
Kiki,My mom (93) would say it’s because we Cubans all have the map of the island engraved on our forehead! =D
Keb,
You are too kind, as usual. Oh wait! That’s why you’re my friend!
Melek,
You are SOO right, my amiga. BTW, my Amy loves the word, “apodo” but then, she loves the word “descarada” too. =D
Marti,I celebrate your abundance and I’m jealous as hell! I wish I had a big fat Cuban family! Some people have all the luck.
Your friend in the jungle,
N
Mama! Happy Day a day late…I was in the kitchen all day…I am blessed and thankful to have you as my amiga…Un beso fro TN…