It isn’t Thanksgiving dinner if Grandma’s stuffing isn’t part of the menu. I didn’t always like her stuffing, not because it isn’t tasty, because it is. It was just because I was being a little shit when I was younger.

You see, the age difference between me and my youngest aunt is 4 years. We never really got along as young children because we were always fighting for Grandma’s attention, her being the youngest and me being the first grandchild. I forced myself to hate everything she liked and for many years, that included Grandma’s stuffing. My aunt liked ham so I wouldn’t eat it, she liked raisins so I wouldn’t eat it. I ate almost everything else and my body shows it but those few things that I knew she loved, especially at get-togethers, I simply avoided.

What’s funny now is that noone ever noticed. It wasn’t until I had truly matured in my twenties that I got over it and ate ham and stuffing. I love them both! I can’t believe I waited so long to enjoy the foods that Grandma worked so hard to prepare every year. Now that I prepare Thanksgiving dinner for my family, I appreciate her stuffing even more. I’m not sure if any of her other grandchildren know how to make her stuffing but I will pass it on to my kids and hopefully, they will pass it on to their children too.

I’m thankful that I have something from Grandma that will be shared and passed down from generation to generation. I’m also thankful that my ohana is in good health. The boys called to wish us Happy Thanksgiving and we extending the same to them.

I hope everyone had something to be thankful for this year.