Thanksgiving in "The Country"

I can only remember one year in my entire life of not being in "The Country" for Thanksgiving...two years ago when I broke my arm the day before, but that's a story for another day. My family on my mom's side gathers at my grandmother's childhood home in Walthourville, GA, just a few minutes outside of Hinesville and Fort Stewart. The house was built around the turn of the 20th century complete with high ceilings, tin roof, and a wrap-around porch. Over the years the house has been vandalized so now it is boarded up and used really only for Thanksgiving.

It's always an eclectic bunch that gathers in that old house on 119 just over the railroad tracks. Cousins, aunts, uncles, 2nd cousins, 3rd cousins, anyone remotely related to our extended family. This year we had 30-35 which is really a smaller crowd than normal. Every year someone new and different shows up to join in the fun and the food. There have been many years when I have asked my mom and aunts who so and so was and they had no idea. I am convinced that the only person who really knows everyone each year is my grandmother. She loves having everyone together. I have one cousin who is pregnant but on bed-rest who made the trip this year. Another cousin is pregnant and was due last Friday, but she is using a birthing center so we would have been ready had she gone into labor today. We had 4 children under the age of 3 not counting the two in the womb. Like I said, it is always a hoot, then some for Thanksgiving. Claire said the blessing this year, which was the best memory of the day for me, possible one of the best ever in that old drafty house. Did I mention there is no heat, just two fire places? We do have indoor plumbing, but the old outhouse is still standing and every child that has ever been there has to use it and usually has his or her picture made in the process.

Rustic doesn't quite begin to convey the environment. No TV or phone. Needless to say, I have never seen the Macy's Parade or a football game on Thanksgiving Day, but you don't really need it because we always have a pick-up game in the field behind the house but you have to navigate the trees, bushes and barbed wire fence when running your routes. All in all, today was a fantastic day of food, family, and fond memories. I hope to post some pictures soon. Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful too!