Gelt, Gilt, and Guilt
November 29, 2013
Photo Credit: Aryn Shelander
Every year I create a new table motif for our Thanksgiving table. This year with Chanukah and Thanksgiving on the same day, Chanukah gelt and autumn colors set the motif of round gold dots.
Chanukah gelt is gold foil wrapped chocolate.
Do you see the gold dots on our table covering?
Photo Credit: Aryn Shelander
The gold chargers, gold flatware, and vintage gold drinking glasses all followed our theme. Eight candlesticks polished brightly were symbolic of the eight lights of Chanukah.
Our Menu includes contributions from all our guests.
Menu design by Aryn Shelander.
We concluded our meal by asking each person at the table what they were thankful for in the past year. My daughter reminded us that the more specifically we articulated what we were grateful for the more positive impact it would bring.
So I thought back over the past twelve months and remembered the people connected to me in one way or another who have succumbed to the ruthless effects of alcoholism. It has been wrenching to witness how they have slowly lost connection with their families, friends and even their own internal motivations due to the grip of alcohol. My heart goes out to everyone dealing with alcoholism in their lives.
One thing we can do is talk about difficult issues openly without judgement.
My thanks goes to everyone for giving to each other, their families, and communities without guilt. This is what friends and family are about.
Photo of the thanksgiving table taken by photographer Philip Cohen using an Apple phone panoramic option. The chairs look kind of funky as the camera seems to combined them. They are all 100+ year old chairs painted black.
Ace flies his plane from the deck going over the canyon like a Turkey Vulture and then, they catch the plane in mid air on the way back. That was thrilling! Photo Credit: Philip Cohen
No shoes in the house! They all wait for their owner at the front door.
Photo Credit: Philip Cohen