What does "family" mean to you? To most of us it means the people we are closely-related to...the ones who have to take you in when no one else will. The ones who always have your back. My Dad used to say family is who you have to comfort you when the world has beaten you down, and you come home and close the door to shut everyone else out. The ones in the house with you are family. The hope is that you can let your guard down and be yourself...relax, you're with family. That's what the holiday of Thanksgiving is all about. It's the one holiday that you don't have to give any gifts, so no worries about whether or not you chose the right thing, or spent enough. All you have to do is show up and eat. A lot. Then rest up and eat some more. For the cook(s) it's a chance to show off for those you love. To put love into every bite consumed by your family.
Unfortunately since we don't get to choose our family, sometimes family members are not good for you. Sometimes they don't let you forget old insults, or they hold grudges, or they are judgmental. Sometimes you are better off seeking out "surrogate family": people who really do love and accept you just the way you are. I once read: "Family is a circle of people who surround you and love you." Note that nothing there says you have to actually be related.
In "Prophecy of the Undead", Yuri's family is long-dead, since he is a vampire over one-hundred years old. Keisha still has living family members, but she hasn't seen them for a while. Once she is turned into a vampire, she first needs to learn to control herself around those she now considers her food source. Yuri become her mentor and her lover, accepting her for the often scary-smart, intelligent woman that she is. When she meets and shares blood (and memories) with two of the oldest vampires Yuri knows, they tell her they enjoyed the sharing so much with her that they now consider themselves to be like uncles, in that they are fond of her and wish her well. Keisha finds herself surrounded by people, none of whom are related to her, yet they love her. That's family.
Me? I'm thrilled that my kids who live away from home will be here and my husband (as usual) will be doing the majority of the cooking. Daughter and I will make the desserts. Here's a quick and easy recipe:
Best Cranberry Sauce (when you are tired of the canned stuff)
12 oz bag of fresh cranberries
1 cup real maple syrup
1 cup cran-raspberry juice
Grated zest of 1 orange (orange part of the peel)
1 cup walnut halves
***
Combine all except walnuts in pot and bring to a boil. Lower heat and cook about 10 minutes, until all cranberries pop open. Remove from heat and stir in walnuts. Cool then refrigerate until ready to serve.
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Unfortunately since we don't get to choose our family, sometimes family members are not good for you. Sometimes they don't let you forget old insults, or they hold grudges, or they are judgmental. Sometimes you are better off seeking out "surrogate family": people who really do love and accept you just the way you are. I once read: "Family is a circle of people who surround you and love you." Note that nothing there says you have to actually be related.
In "Prophecy of the Undead", Yuri's family is long-dead, since he is a vampire over one-hundred years old. Keisha still has living family members, but she hasn't seen them for a while. Once she is turned into a vampire, she first needs to learn to control herself around those she now considers her food source. Yuri become her mentor and her lover, accepting her for the often scary-smart, intelligent woman that she is. When she meets and shares blood (and memories) with two of the oldest vampires Yuri knows, they tell her they enjoyed the sharing so much with her that they now consider themselves to be like uncles, in that they are fond of her and wish her well. Keisha finds herself surrounded by people, none of whom are related to her, yet they love her. That's family.
Me? I'm thrilled that my kids who live away from home will be here and my husband (as usual) will be doing the majority of the cooking. Daughter and I will make the desserts. Here's a quick and easy recipe:
Best Cranberry Sauce (when you are tired of the canned stuff)
12 oz bag of fresh cranberries
1 cup real maple syrup
1 cup cran-raspberry juice
Grated zest of 1 orange (orange part of the peel)
1 cup walnut halves
***
Combine all except walnuts in pot and bring to a boil. Lower heat and cook about 10 minutes, until all cranberries pop open. Remove from heat and stir in walnuts. Cool then refrigerate until ready to serve.
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