Grandma B’s Pumpkin Pie…

My dear Grandma, and my mum, celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving together in Strathroy ONT yesterday!

(This post was originally written on American Thanksgiving in 2009,  but after making my pumpkin pie yesterday I’m thinking of my dear Grandma! I’m just a bit home sick I suppose, for all of my friends and family who do not live close by… To all of my loved ones, while you are miles away from Chattanooga, TN – you are always close to my heart!) 

Its thanksgiving tomorrow. I’m prepared, I think. I’ve got gingerbread dough chilling in the refrigerator, ready to roll, cut, bake and decorate. I’ve got the filling for my pumpkin pie mixed up, ready to bake in the morning so it will be fresh. Sweet potatoes are roasting in the oven as we speak so I can make my souffle. My food preparation is well on the way.

But there’s a problem that no amount of preparation or planning can solve. Its a geographical dilemma. I’m a northerner. Yes, I am from the north – and I’m not just a yankee. I’m half canadian. For me, this means that distance is not the only problem. My canadian family already had their Thanksgiving celebrations 6 weeks ago.

My biological family – is very spread out. I have american family as far out west as Oklahoma City, OK and Canadian family as far north as Huntsville, Ontario. I have cousins spread out all across the fruited plain. My own sister is 8 ours away in South Carolina and my parents are in Grand Rapids Michigan.

This is not a new situation, to be sure. I can count on my hands the amount of times I’ve been able to celebrate Thanksgiving with extended family. Because the times are few and far between, that makes the memories that much more sweet.

I remember specifically a canadian Thanksgiving when I was in grade five. We were living in London at the time and so we were privileged to celebrate with the Brubacher clan. That’s my mom’s family, and its big. We are so big we have to meet in church fellowship halls when we get together. On this particular occasion, I was 10. I recall 2 very specific things about this Thanksgiving. The Brubacher family was large enough, even then, for the cousins to form 2 teams for a floor hockey game in the church gym. The game was underway when I was the recipient of my cousin, Lee’s, high sticking – slap shot, across my face. Ah – good times.

There’s another memory from that particular Thanksgiving. It was my first taste of my Grandma Brubacher’s pumpkin pie that I really remember. From that first taste, I knew. That is what Thanksgiving should taste like – it was fluffy and soft, pumpkin-y and spicey all at the same time. I will never forget that little bite of heaven.

There have been other Thanksgivings, and other delicious foods but none can compare to my Grandma B’s pumpkin pie.

This year on thanksgiving we will spend the day with my husband’s parents. Once again my family is too far away to be able to celebrate together. This is my ninth Thanksgiving with the Day family and I have made many wonderful memories. My daughter takes a hike with her grandaddy every year on Thanksgiving before dinner and that is so special. My mother in law, Ellavene, makes a pumpkin roll that’s ‘to die for’. Some day I secretly hope I’ll be able to make it as well as she does for my grandkids. One year she tried to sneak in a store-bought pumpkin roll. It didn’t work – hers is way too good to try to replace it with a Bi-Lo version.

Old memories and new memories alike bring great joy to me. As I think about what Thanksgiving is truly about, I know that I can take part in this holiday with a full heart. Though near and far, I have a family that loves me. I am so blessed in every aspect of my life! And I am very grateful for God’s goodness.

It goes without saying I will miss all of my family tomorrow. But this year, I’m taking Canadian Thanksgiving with me. I’m baking my Grandma Brubacher’s pumpkin pie. If it turns out half as good as hers, it will be delicious! And while I eat those bites of pumpkin pie, I will be celebrating with all of my family whether they are in Ottumwa, Iowa; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Charleston, South Carolina or Toronto, Ontario.

And to Grandma B, I love you – all the way up there in Huntsville! I thank you for the special memory (and the recipe)! This pie’s for you!

md

(written November 25, 2009)