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On Thanksgiving Day, I pondered of past years and my busy week leading up to it. I thought I would share some of those memories.

We had early deadlines at the newspaper so we were as busy as one armed paper hangers getting copy ready for the design editors. On Wednesday, we published two papers — that day's and the big Thanksgiving issue. All weekend copy, except for breaking news, was also due before we left the office. Needless to say, it was always a busy three days.

But then, there was also the things to do at home to get ready for the big day. On Monday after work, I would mix a double batch of pie crust to make the usual seven or eight pies that were expected by family. I then rolled out the crust on Tuesday evening and made the filling. I usually made four pumpkin, two custard, one apple and one pecan. They each had their favorite, with my grandson, Shane, expecting a whole pumpkin pie for him.

We had no set time for dinner — just whenever they could stop by. This was a vow I made to myself as they all started to marry and begin their own families that I would not be the parent who insisted you be at my house at a certain time for holidays. I grew up with that mandate. We had to be at my maternal grandmothers every Sunday evening for dinner and the same for holidays. Dinner was promptly at 5 p.m. and you better be there.

Needless to say, the holiday was different this year — no family get together and no visitors due to the pandemic we are all dealing with. I hope many of you did the same.

As we look ahead, Christmas at the Palace is still a go with performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 3, 4, and 5 and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5 and 6. Only 300 tickets will be sold for each performance. It is my understanding that there will be no more than 10 performers at a time on the stage, no curtain call and social distancing. Kudos to director Clare Cooke, Palace staff and performers for continuing with this great annual production amid confining situations.

I am one of the first to admit that 2020 has been a very frustrating year. I decided that, in such dark times, I would put up my Christmas tree early. For years, I have always put outside decorations up in late October while it is still reasonably warm — turned them on that night to make sure they were working and never turned them on again until Thanksgiving night. Not this year. A couple of neighbors turned theirs on the week before Thanksgiving, so I decided to join them and turned mine on also. It has given the neighborhood a bright spot in an otherwise dark time.

I guess what I’m saying is in this particular year anything goes. This might be the year to start new family traditions. You might choose to have chili, spaghetti, lasagna, chicken tetrazzini or some favorite family dish instead of all the hoopla and stress of planning and preparing a big meal — especially when you can’t be together. (I’m predicting Christmas will be the same).

I am enjoying FaceTime every couple of days with family and I’m thankful for the technology to do it.

Until next week, be safe, wash your hands, social distance and wear a mask. It takes all of us working together to overcome this pandemic. I’m doing my part. Are you?

Let me leave you with this quotation by Thomas Carlyle: “Permanence, perseverance, and persistence, in spite of all obstacles, discouragement, and impossibilities. It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.”

Brenda Donegan is a former Marion Star staffer. She may be reached at brendadonegan55@gmail.com.

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