Happy Thanksgiving

 It's not often that I get particularly personal on this blog, however, these holidays are going to be very different this year. My situation change with the lost of a dear loved one.

The family home will be very different and quiet without them. An illness took a toll on them and it was quite a while before knowing what was really going on - they really wouldn't tell anyone it was a shock to most that they made their transition.

Regardless, I still believe in the idea of holiday cheer and perhaps for many of you now I have this eyar to know what it means to essentially celebrate the holidays alone. I do have a large family to rely on so the holidays won't be me totally alone. At the same time, a quiet home during holidays is very appreciated.

Regardless I always enjoy the festiveness of the holidays and certainly to be able to cook meals that I don't normally eat during the year. Though this year it's just me cooking and eating the food.

Sorry to gross you out but it's time to defrost the chitlins that I had bought from the Dixmoor Meat Market out in Chicago's south suburbs. Chitlins is something I do enjoy eating during the holidays and this dear loved one showed me how to prepare and cook them.

Regardless I don't want reveal too much about who this person was to me as this isn't that kind of blog. I miss her in the worst way and even if she wasn't at home, my only wish is to be able to call her and talk to her one more time.

To be honest in the past I had offered "easter eggs" of close people who I had lost over the years. And given that this blog has been around almost 20 years, I'll leave it up to you to find those two random names mentioned over the years.

I hope if you're enjoy a quite home that you take this holiday season as a time of self-reflection. Hopefully, the next holiday season you take the timeout to celebrate with the people you care about.

Credit: USA Today