Thanksgiving 2024

 This was the third year I spent with Ellen's family.  I'm treated like a long family friend now. 

I walked Gretchen to the mailbox and back  after sunrijse and then putzed around the house until noon, It was another mild day with a high in the upper 60Fs.  

I worried about Hansel as he continued to rest on the sectional couch.  He moved around more, though, and still ate his raw chicken and wagged his tail.

I took a shower and got ready for the 1pm meetup time.  I didn't see Ellen's message that the time was changed to 3pm because her brother Eric had taken a 70-mile bike jride around Vail and didn't leave until 2pm to arrive with his two daughters Celeste and Matilda. It was the first time I met Ellen's brother and his girls.

I was the first one to arrive.  Even Ellen was still napping at her place and didn't get to her parents' place until 2pm.  I helped her mom Rebecca cut veggies for a veggie dip plate, and later peeled the potatoes.  By now I was starved as I saved my appetite for the big holiday meal that was served  after 3pm.

After dinner Ellen, Eric, the girls and I walked a mile arounud her parents' neighborhood to look at some of the Christmas lights.  Not as many homes were lighted up when compared to last year.  Most homes will decorate their yards this weekend.  We walked slowly as Ellen had another surgery just last Monday and couldn't walk fast.  I counted five brightly-lighted homes.

I left after the walk to go back to my place at 7:30pm.  My belly was full and I had a good time but I wanted to give Ellen personal time with her family. I needed to get back to Hansel and the other dogs as I kept them all inside.

To my great surprise, Hansel was walking around the living room when I arrived, wagging his tail with joy.  Seeing him up and about was the best gift for today.  He was almost his old self except for the limp which I now think will take a few weeks to heal.  The good news is that he will be ok and by the end of the year, he will be my hiking buddy again.