I spoke to my sister-in-law yesterday. She and her kids are living with my parents while my brother is deployed in Afghanistan, as some of you may remember. She was talking about their Thanksgiving plans as a family, expressing sadness that my brother will not be there this year.
Because my sympathy is always clumsy, I made murmurs of agreement, and then asked, “So are the kids old enough now for Mom to insist on the Thanksgiving Hike?”
“Hike?” My sister-in-law said. “She said they like to eat late and then take a walk, but she didn’t say anything about a hike.”
“Oh, it’s a hike.” I explained. “Preferably with canyons. Or mountains. If they live where there are no canyons, they will at least drive out to some farmer or rancher’s field and stomp around. Expect three miles out and three miles back. Maybe five.”
My mother is, as they say, a character. I prefer the term “force of nature.” She likes to organize people, and nothing pleases her more than having a houseful of children (and now grandchildren) to feed well and then herd on a long trek. When she brings them home safely again, there is contentment in her eyes.
There is, among her many fine qualities, a strong streak of border collie in her soul.
One year we went through a canyon in Arizona. “Be careful, ” my father said. “There have been mountain lion sightings around here lately.” Another year we walked through Horse Thief Canyon in Kansas, and my brother-in-law, an affable computer consultant who spends his days effectively chained to a desk, huffed so much coming up one hill that even my mother felt a vague twinge of compunction. Still, the siren song of the Thanksgiving Hike is something she cannot resist.
Az the Husband and I are staying home for Thanksgiving, and his parents are coming to stay for the weekend. My other two sisters are visiting their own in-laws for the holiday. The only people around for my mother to herd on this Thanksgiving will be my gentle sister-in-law and her three children.
May God have mercy upon them.
I’m shivering just thinking about this.
My own mother is a gentle, blanc mange-esque woman, who has never forced anyone to do anything, God bless her.
Very funny…all my mom does is insist on viewing family-made videos after Thanksgiving dinner. All things considered, though, I think that I’d prefer a hike!
I wish someone would make me hike after everything I eat at Thanksgiving. I spend all year fantasizing about dressing and always eat entirely too much. It is nice to have those family traditions no matter how annoying they may be at the time. We have a spirited game of bingo with my mom’s side of the family every year at Christmas. Everyone groans about it every year and it has been threatened with cancellation but every year we drag it out and play for $5.00 gifts.
I think your mother sounds great! I’m all for a hike, especially before a massive meal. Good for her. Of course, I do understand that this would not be pleasant if your expectation is a casual stroll in the backyard…
Heidi
The line about the border collie made me laugh out loud, and wonder how my boys will characterize my idiosyncracies on some future date.
your mother and my mother should get together…and go hiking. She considers 8 miles a moderate distance, such that a child do it. It’s a modification to her real plan – 12 miles.
‘There is, among her many fine qualities, a strong streak of border collie in her soul.’
That is a great line – one for posterity! As an owner of three border collies it brings a vivid image to mind.
I loved this! A strong streak of border collie in her soul. Loved this!
Julie
Using My Words
My thoughts go out to your brother and family. My husband was in Afghanistan for six months last year. It really started to drag on; I don’t know how the army/marine spouses do it for a year and more, and I’m very thankful I don’t have to find out.
And whatever happened to good old American football and falling asleep in front of the TV?! heh-heh
I loved the border collie line too – excellent. What a great post. My family just sits around and talks and eventually someone starts arguing about politics and then we all go home.
I officially dub this post “loved.” Your description of your mother is impeccably literary (I particularly liked the border collie part).
You made me smile.
I tried to leave this comment on the Book List post …
I am a firm believer that everyone in the world, and possibly some other undiscovered worlds, should read Briar Rose at least once in their lives.
How, oh how, can a list that includes Briar Rose and “Anne spelled with an e” also include The Book of the Dun Cow????
You have no obligation to answer me
I got halfway through The Dun Cow and had to quit because I was having nightmares about SNAKES! All over ME!
But I do love Walter Wangerin Jr’s mind.
lovely how I signed myself up above …I guess I can now say I’ve done acid.
I found you through Mom’s Daily Dose – I came the day she linked you and stayed because I liked what I saw
The border collie line is true classic. So, is this a tradition you’d like to pass on to your wee ones too?
I meant the hike, not the border collie, must be a little brain-fried tonight.
HG, as soon as my kids are past the stage of being carried, I will definitely continue the tradition.
Veronica,
Thanks for talking with my wife I know she appreciates it. She’s ready for me to come home. Only 252 days left, but who is counting
brother
Oh gosh, I could use the hike after Thanksgiving dinner! But i definitely need someone like your mom to force me up and out the door!
We used to play football (or soccer) in the mud afterwards! I’d prefer a nice long hike myself. Is she also a good cook? Maybe I’ll come to her place, instead of my in-laws.
I hope they all have good shoes.
I love your mom and my kids love her too. She does not distinguish between grandchildren and grandchildren’s friends in her plans. All children are treated equally.
Oh, that is funny. Knowing the hike is coming would hopefully deter me from eating too much. Or maybe I would eat a lot to make me feel better about having to go on a trek.
No! I would eat some before the hike and then gorge AFTER the hike because it was so hard.