The Piano Bench

To say that 2020 has been a year like no other would, in my opinion; be an understatement.  This Thanksgiving was  little like the whole year has felt for me.... a little unplanned,  a lot disappointing, a little sad and, I guess you could say...... a little angry.

Unplanned, because no one really knew what they were going to do.  Who would be coming? Who would be going?  Will we be together?  Is it best that we all stay apart in our family groups?  

Disappointing because we all felt it would be best to not  gather.  Play it safe, stay home and stay healthy.  

Sad because, well, to this mother, one of the greatest joys  in life is having all of my children gathered together.  

Mad....  there has been plenty to get upset and angry over this year for all of us.  Of course there have been some good things, some wonderfully amazing things.   However, this year finds us searching a little deeper to find those blessings.  We have to work a little harder at keeping positive thoughts in the forefront of our minds. 

This Thanksgiving my youngest daughter said something that  caught me off guard.  Something that gave me a lot to think about.   Through the chaos of this year we have  all gone through the motions, we adapted our lives and moved forward.   Children are resilient, or so they say.  Truly, we all are pretty resilient most of the time.  But sometimes things are said that make you realize that maybe, just maybe, things are not what they seem.  Maybe the circumstances of life are affecting someone more than you realize.

When we were setting the table for Thanksgiving Dinner my daughter Kayleigh said,  "Mom, I wish there was someone to sit on the piano bench this year."  I just looked at her and said, " I wish there was, too."

I am sure some of you know the meaning of her statement, but for those of you who don't, let me explain. 

For the holidays, when the family is all gathered and we need more room around the dining table.....We put the piano bench at one end of the table.  Since Kayleigh is the youngest and smallest, she sits on the bench along with one of the other children.  Kayleigh, being the youngest and most spoiled, usually gets to pick who sits with her on the bench.  (9 times out of 10 she picks Jenna, her oldest sister)  This year we had empty seats at the table and therefore did not need to use the piano bench.

What a statement!!!!  Here I am quietly disappointed that we are all not  together for Thanksgiving and my nine year old sums it up so beautifully.  

 

  Here's hoping that next year the piano benches of our lives are filled to overflowing.  

Nebraska Prairie Girl.