Happy Thanksgiving!

Usually here in Michigan, "fall" is October and November brings the bare branch trees, a distinct drop in the temperature and the nagging thoughts of what winter might bring. Yet this year in Lansing, we are still seeing large piles of leaves on lawns or tall brown paper bags waiting to be picked up. Everyone hopes for a beautiful day so they can rake before the snow falls or there is steady rain. Time is running out.

That's one reason why this picture of Mom and Junior frolicking in the leaves in front of 833 N. Capitol always makes me smile. They are carefree and happy, neither knowing that in a few years, the Leatherman family would be one less. (I think this is Mom/Jean and Junior, who were two years apart in age.)

I sometimes wonder what those Thanksgivings were like for J.P. and Minnie's families. I suspect J.P.'s were rather subdued and probably considered somewhat sacred, in thanks for the gifts of the year -- health, family, a good year for the crops. The Mennonites do celebrate holidays such as Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. It is likely that the Leathermans would have gathered together, possibly with Angeline's father, Herman Bentler, and her stepmother and their children, who would be slightly older than J.P. and his siblings.

If they were getting together, one of the families would make a fairly long ride in a horse and buggy to the home of the other across the now-harvested fields of Western Michigan. No doubt the table would include food from the farm -- corn, a chicken or turkey, vegetables and pie.

I'm not sure when this photo of William and Bessie Wood, Minnie and one of her brothers was taken but it certainly looks as though it could be at Thanksgiving time with the bare branches on the trees.

The Woods lived in Buffalo, NY until 1905 when they moved to Lansing, Michigan. They knew all too well what the weather would bring, with deep, lake effect snow and frigid temperatures. Theirs was a city life. Perhaps Bessie's twin brother Stephen, her other siblings, Mary and James, and her parents would be invited. We know little of William's family. They would probably have dressed for the occasion as holidays required in that time period.

Our holidays now are far more spread out and much more relaxed. This year in Cleveland, Mary Krauss Elinsky will welcome the Krauss family, along with her husband Howard's family and all the children and cousins. Nancy Marzolf Taylor and Walt may well be celebrating with their kids Annie and John and their families (now both in Flagstaff) and brother Jim Marzolf and Tara Rose. Perhaps the whole gang will head to Tucson to spend it with Mary Taylor Miller and the Miller clan at Elkhorn Ranch.

John and Pat Marzolf's family is spread far and wide, but there is a better than average chance that those who can find their way to Colorado Springs will be celebrating together. Or perhaps, they'll take the show on the road to enjoy the holiday at the homes of Martha, Phil, Mike or Liz and their families. They'll be giving thanks for Liz's newborn daughter, Kenzie Elizabeth, who was born on October 26/

Ann Porter and Marty will probably be in Rochester, living in the beautiful apartment that Marty built over the garage of their new home as they remodel the main structure. Jack will be in China where he lives, perhaps introducing this very American holiday to his Chinese friends and colleagues.

And in Lansing, Jeanie and Rick will celebrate with friends on Thanksgiving and Rick's kids on the Sunday after. Because really, every day should be Thanksgiving. And multiple families make it complicated!

For a number of years, until travel became too complicated, the Croope/Krauss branches of the Leathermans would celebrate Christmas in Lansing and Thanksgiving in Cleveland. No year was more poignant that the year after Jean and Grace died. The suits were exchanged for jeans and sweaters, there were plenty of tears but we were together.

Our table was smaller -- and today that table would be smaller still. But there was such love, such caring, so many memories. David peeled potatoes and carved the turkey. We all wondered what the state of the bird might be without our mothers' experience. We made the turkey stuffing with the recipe our moms used (a can of cream of mushroom soup was the secret ingredient!) and together, we made it through.

This year as I prepare my gratitude list, I can say that I am especially grateful to have connected with so many of my family members through our genealogy project. I've received wonderful (handwritten!) letters from several of you and loads of emails. And I've discovered wonderful things about the men and women who were part of our family heritage that I look forward to sharing with you.