The Empty Chair

I have always hosted big Thanksgiving dinners.  I believe that the best way to honor the holiday is to continue the tradition of sharing a meal with family AND friends.  I can’t begin to count the number of single soldiers that I have welcomed into my home so that they could have a home cooked meal at my table instead of standing in line for a glob of instant mashed potatoes.  I do remember all of their faces though.  I remember the banter, the laughter, their gratitude, and the feeling that I got knowing that I made a tiny difference in their holiday. 

Yesterday, as I stood in my kitchen and watched my guests, I realized how much has changed since the Twin Towers collapsed.  My husband was the only soldier in my home, the remaining 13 people in my home were either women or children.  I realized just how thankful I am for those women.  Three husbands are deployed, one recently deceased, but all of those women were sitting around my table, chatting, laughing, and taking care of their families regardless of the missing men.  Was I that strong during Thanksgiving last year when John was gone?  I don’t think I was.  I think, when I look back on this Thanksgiving in the years to come, I will remember the banter, the laughter, but the gratitude will be my own because those women made a difference in MY holiday.  Family isn’t what DNA we share or which branch of the family tree we sit… family was what I saw last night.  It was the closeness, the togetherness, the love and the memories.

The men that couldn't be there were still honored because among the 30 pounds of turkey, 12 cups of stuffing, 10 pounds of potatoes, two dozen deviled eggs, 25 petite soufflés, 84 ounces of M&M’s, 30 homemade rolls, 5 pounds of candied yams, corn on the cob, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole,  bottles of red and white wine, beer, a gallon of hot apple cider, there was one empty place setting at the head of the table.   Sitting in the chair across from the empty wine glass, empty plate, and untouched utensils was a pair of tan boots, a Kevlar helmet, an M-16 machine gun, and an ACU jacket for the soldiers, and a white candle for Mike Holiday...  The setting was there to honor all of the brave men and women that couldn’t be home for the holidays… either because they are currently deployed ,or because they were sitting at the feet of their God watching over their families on this Thanksgiving.