Sunday, November 29, 2009

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2009:

My first holiday without the kids, teetering between sadness and aloof. I decided that I would do nothing. In my plan, I needed to lie to everyone so no one actually knew that I was alone.

"I'm going to my Mom's," I told friends.
"I'm going to my friend's," I told my mom.
"I'm going to Patrick's," I told my colleagues.

I just knew that I needed to feel the rawness of this divorce on this holiday. Although Patrick and I get along extremely well, this Thanksgiving did not include plans to co-mingle. I sincerely craved the calm the comes with being alone. Eating Chinese food from a paper box would have suited me just fine.

I was choosing an UnThanksgiving, but little did I know, Thanksgiving would still come, Charlie Brown.

Some of you know of my new friendship with Little Tommy. When my favorite radio show went off the air in August, I emailed the producer. Within 40 seconds, he wrote back. Within and hour, we were on the phone. Within days, I was watching his son skateboard. We've been hanging out ever since. A surprising friend and ally in my life, I decided to hang out with Tommy on Thanksgiving, but just for a little while, I told myself. After all, I wanted to be alone.

He took me to meet his 83 year old mom. If you've ever listened to the show, you know that meeting his mom is bigger than the Oscar's. It was an honor to be invited. However, we were just going to hang out for a little while. Dinner would be served at his sister's house, and surely I would be home, wearing sweatpants, and eating Chinese food by then.

And then, I was greeted warmly by a house full of relatives situated around the most angelic woman you could imagine. Attached to a feeding tube, but sitting strongly with love beaming from within, was Rosa.

[me, Rosa (83), Auntie Ding (94), Tommy]

And that's when it happened. I was at the mercy of the beautiful moment, and I was hanging on tightly. Being a quiet observer of Tommy tenderly lifting his mom into his car, watching he and his sister 'sneak' small bites of mashed potatoes to wet the palette of a woman fed by tube, and being lovingly included in a traditional family meal just about broke my heart. Or healed it.

I wasn't looking for Thanksgiving, but Thanksgiving found me.

16 comments:

Jason, as himself said...

Wow, what a great day. I'm glad you weren't alone all day.

Katy said...

What a beautiful story and lovely family. It seems that you had exactly the kind of day you needed. Good for the soul.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

why do you delete certain posts?

just jamie said...

Thank you for looking out for me. I've got the Secret Service on it! ;)

just jamie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
San Diego Momma said...

I love these stories.

P.S. And what the hell is happening above me?

Miss Lisa said...

So beautiful---you are blessed :)
(I was seriously worried you ate jelly beans and toast when I saw the title--I would personally fly your butt to join us in Texas if that was the case!)

Miss M said...

I am glad you decided not to be alone. Sometimes the most unexpected things are just what we need :)

I am confused about what is going on above San Diego Momma as well...

katydidnot said...

ily. and rosa. and auntie ding. aal.

what happened? what did i miss?

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
T. said...

Well now I am also wondering what happened above. Jamie. Please call your mother. ILY. (AAL too)

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

What a great story. So glad Thanksgiving found you!

I'm with everybody else, though..I sure hope people weren't leaving mean comments!!

kanishk said...

Wow, what a great day. I'm glad you weren't alone all day.

Work From Home India

Kristen said...

So glad to hear that you got just what your soul needed for Thanksgiving. He sure sounds like one special guy to me!

tiarastantrums said...

that sounds like it turned out to be a wonderful day!