The Day After Friendsgiving

Hike 44/52

Ed opened the paper and announced the weather as he does each morning: 50 degrees in Atlanta, 27 in Chicago, 29 in Indianapolis, 30 in Grand Rapids, 73 in Tucson. We won the temperature wars here in Tucson, unless you like cold weather. Some do. I’m not judging.

The cities he called out are significant. These are the places where our family–children, grandchildren, and siblings–live.  It’s a morning ritual that, in some small way helps us feel connected.

It was Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, the day when, traditionally, shoppers get out to hunt for Christmas bargains, or browse for deals online. But not us. Instead of Black Friday, we searched for Blue Skies as we set out for hike #44.

We were on the Mariposa Trail in Oracle State Park. Mariposa, the Spanish word for butterfly, is also the name of a desert lily, a deep-orange, three petaled flower that graces the trail in the spring if the temperatures and rainfall are just right.

 We hiked along, our boots crunching on the dry, gravely trail. I looked up for birds–ravens and hawks that often soar high and effortlessly on the thermals, but instead, people were flying! Three distinct stripes of white headed east across the turquois sky. Friends and family, no doubt returning home after the Thanksgiving holiday.

My heart ached, just a little, feeling sorry for myself that I hadn’t hosted the family as I had done in years past….when we lived in Indiana…when our kids were young, and our parents were still with us. Traditions change, families grow and scatter, new members join the family, and others leave precious memories. 

One year, the first year after Ed and I moved to Arizona, I cooked a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for the two of us. It was a lot of work, too much food, and what I realized, it’s not about the food, it’s about the company. For the past several years, we have been inviting friends over for dinner on Thanksgiving. We have found that we aren’t the only ones missing family on that day. We call it Friendsgiving and it fills my heart with joy.

So, these past few days, Ed and I have been eating leftovers from Friendsgiving: Mediterranean beef stew and mashed potatoes, ( No turkey. Ed makes one of his signature dishes each year for Friendsgiving) and the salad, bread and cheesecake that friends brought.

I am thankful my family members had wonderful gatherings in Atlanta, Indianapolis, and Grand Rapids, and I am blessed with friends to share a meal with in here Tucson. 

I was thinking this as we finished our hike ( number 44 out of 52!) and my heart was full.

… And in just a few days, Friendsgiving leftovers will be gone and I’ll be putting up the Christmas tree and adding all the leaves to the dining room table. You see, my kids and grandkids, will all be here for Christmas!

(By the way…we are trying to finish our 52 Hike Challenge by the end of the year. 8 hikes to go! Can we do it?! I’ll keep you posted!)