The Thanksgiving that Grandma Disappeared

My favorite Thanksgiving memory was when  the family gathered for Thanksgiving dinner at the down-sized home of our grandparents', as we did every year.  As usual, assorted  chairs were gathered from around the house to accommodate all the family members at the table. The table was made larger by placing a board of plywood on top of a folding table. The whole family worked together to accomplish this feat.

No matter how MacGyvered the table itself was, the table setting was simply elegant  with white damask tablecloth and napkins, with Grandma’s good plates and silver. It was the same setting every year, but every year Grandma would get out the polaroid and stand in the couch to take  a picture of the setting. 

90 year-old Grandma sat at the head of the table on a stool borrowed from her bedroom.  The rest of us sat on our chairs around the table.  Grandma always sacrificed her comfort for her guests. We were all chatting, smiling among ourselves when we heard Grandma laughing.  We turned to see what the joke was, but she wasn’t there. She had fallen backwards off her stool! After confirming that she was alright, we all had a good laugh. That sticks in my mind as the best and most memorable Thanksgiving.

 We may strive for perfection, but it will always be the laughter that we remember.