A Tanglewood Thanksgiving
One of the drawbacks of living a thousand miles away from ones family is not being with them during those emotional holidays: Christmas and Thanksgiving. Someone once quipped, “That’s what they made airplanes for.” This is true and in theory it is comforting to know Wisconsin is only two and half hours away with a direct Midwest Airline flight. In practice, however, it isn’t always convenient or financially possible to jump on an airplane especially at a time of the year when both the volume of the traffic and the price of the tickets are at their peak. Driving there—although a pleasant experience in the summer—might not be such a good idea given the unpredictable weather patterns of fall and winter. Living in Tanglewood, however, we found Thanksgiving can really be something to be thankful for in our home away from home.
For those who enjoy a communal like meal reflecting in some way the Pilgrims get together with Native Americans, management hosts a Thanksgiving dinner in the club house. They provide the Turkey to be cooked by the hostess of each table. The rest of the meal is in a potluck tradition, and the decorations and table arrangements make for a comfortable and festive atmosphere. Those who attended the event came away well fed and emotionally satisfied with their Thanksgiving celebration.
We were among those who chose to save our trip home for Christmas. Over the years we had many Thanksgiving dinners at our house, until the grandchildren began to multiply and our 1200 square foot home seemed to shrink in size. Our kids soon took over and began to host the holiday at their homes and we became guests. That tradition, however, of being the place others come to on Thanksgiving is ingrained deep into who we are or who we became over the years. In that spirit and learning that two couples who have become good friends of ours and who are coincidently fellow Wisconsinites, had no special plans, we invited them to share the holiday with us. We had a delightful day of playing cards and a thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings.
This is what makes Tanglewood a rewarding life experience. We know we are welcomed and loved back home, but to share that feeling of holiday bonding here in Tanglewood with friends we have only recently met, is a special treat. Lori and I have many times reflected on how grateful we are to have found this special place in central Florida. I hope everyone else had as rewarding a Thanksgiving Day, and wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
Phil Pluta