Head of The Table

Yesterday at our Thanksgiving dinner table someone new took the seat at the head of the table where my Father always sat. It was Michael, my 18 year old nephew, who sat across me at the table yesterday. You see growing up everyone had their seat. Picture a table of 6 , yes I know we are a familly of 7.  My Dad always took his place as the Captain , the head of the table,  to his right , and fittingly because she was his right hand, my Mom, to her right my sister Maribeth, to his left my sister Lisa, her left my sister Eileen, then me at the other head of table, facing my Dad.  Where was Frank?  Laying on the floor in the TV room watching TV,  we always felt bad for him but in hindsight a boy with four sisters and one TV probably looked at that as an hour of heaven where the TV was his and he could watch MASH.  While it was odd to see your 18 year old nephew ( who you can't even believe is 18 sitting there ) it was nice and kind of a passing of the torch.

It made me think about how many meals the " 7 " of us ate at that table, how many meatloafs, roasts, Sunday dinners, steaks, pork chops that table has seen. How many times the phone rang and my Father would say " dont they know we are eating". How many times he would say there's a fly in this kitchen , I can't eat with a fly in the kitchen Carolyn. How many times he would tell Eileen to finish her meal. How many times he would say to my Mom, good meal Hon and we would all follow up with yes good meal Mom. 

I sat there from when I was 6 probably til my early 30's , funny I do remember sitting there when I told my Dad , after putting it off for months , that I was going to Europe. I said well I have something to tell you , I am going to Europe.  Without looking up in fear of his reaction, there was a brief pause and then he spoke,  "Well Lori I think that's great , go see the world honey."  All that worrying for a positive reaction , LOL.  I went and saw the world with his words in my head everywhere I went to be careful, have eyes in the back of your head, and stick together.

I woke up today being so Thankful for the memories shared at that table, the memories of a family who ate together and definitely prayed together.  Funny that Thanksgiving is centered around that table, where as a family you probably spend the most time together, I know we did.

The Head of the table changed yesterday but I do look forward to the new memories we will make at that table knowing we are still living as he would want us to do , praying together and eating together.