Threads of the Past: Weaving Memories and Traditions During the Holidays

Thanksgiving is a time to gather, give thanks, and share love, laughter, and traditions with those closest to us. This year, Thanksgiving holds extra meaning for my family as we celebrate my grandmother Joyce’s 99th birthday.  Aging is challenging for Grandma; she’s frail, and her vision is almost gone, but her spirit and humor are still there. Additional challenges are placed on the loved ones who care for her; caregiving can be exhausting and all-encompassing. However, having Grandma with us at 99 years old on this Thanksgiving has made me reflect on my memories of Grandma in her prime and all the things that continue on in our family because of her. 

Grandma Joyce wasn’t just a matriarch; she was the heart of our family’s celebrations. Over the years, as I have taken on the responsibility of preparing dinner, I have realized that as a cook, Grandma didn’t need complicated recipes to create something extraordinary. Her stuffing, for example, was as simple as day-old dry bread with her special touch of “juju.” Served in a fancy dish, it became something magical. Her peanut butter pie, a favorite that now requires at least two pies to make it through Thanksgiving (one for dinner and one inevitably devoured by breakfast), was another marvel of simplicity: peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla pudding, and whipped cream. Yet, because Grandma made it, it always felt special, like a piece of culinary art.

As I recreate her recipes this Thanksgiving, I’ll also set the table with a ceramic bowl she crafted in the 1970s shaped like a potato. For me, it’s perfect for serving mashed potatoes and a cherished reminder of all the quirky arts and crafts she introduced us to over the years. Cross-stitching, rug hooking, painting rocks—you name it, Grandma was up on all the crafty trends and we all got involved when she was on a roll!  That bowl doesn’t just hold potatoes; it holds gratefulness for passing down her love for crafts to my mom, Aunt Tammy, and myself. 

To honor her this year, I’m reviving another tradition she loves, GAMES!  Grandma has always been a champion card and board game enthusiast. While my immediate family doesn’t often play them, we will this Thanksgiving. It’s a small way to celebrate her legacy and keep the traditions she values so deeply alive. 

Let’s be honest: aging isn’t easy for anyone, whether it’s your loved one or you trying to figure out how best to support them. But Grandma Joyce reminds me there’s much more to cherish beyond the challenges. She’s been a cook, a creator, a teacher, and the keeper of traditions. Her fingerprints are all over our lives—in the recipes we make, the crafts we treasure, and the memories we hold close.

So, this Thanksgiving, I encourage you to see your aging loved ones through a lens of gratitude. Celebrate their stories, traditions, and the love they’ve poured into your family over the years. Whether recreating their favorite recipes, playing their favorite games, or just sitting and sharing stories, these moments matter most.

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours—and a very happy 99th birthday to Grandma Joyce. May her spirit inspire us all to treasure our time with loved ones 💛