22 November 2011

Margay shares some of her best Thanksgiving Memories


Photo by Jean Joachim
 I have so many wonderful Thanksgiving memories, it would hard to pick just one to relate. So, instead, I’d rather talk about the essence of the day. From my earliest memory of the day, it was always about two things: family and the food. It was the one day out of the year that you could eat whatever you wanted and as much as you wanted without fear of being ridiculed by anyone. In fact, if you didn’t eat much, people would ask if you were sick!

My best memories of Thanksgiving revolve around family. I come from a large one, so there was always a lot of noise, chaos, love and happiness filling the house from the moment we all woke up to the moment we all went down for naps when the triptofan kicked in! I remember gathering around the television set to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade while Mom prepared a feast in the kitchen – a tradition we still observe today. Thanksgiving just doesn’t feel the same if you don’t have the parade on while you’re cooking! I remember being transfixed by the amazing floats and cartoon character balloons, and waiting with much anticipation for the arrival of Santa Claus at the end of the parade. For that usually meant that it was time to eat! I don’t know how my mother managed it, but she always timed it just right!

And then there was the food. The turkey, the stuffing, mashed potatoes, turnip, squash – and that was just the main course! While we waited for that, there was a bowl of mixed nuts, dates stuffed with peanut butter and rolled in sugar, celery stuffed with cream cheese or peanut butter, and several different types of pickles. Then there were the pies – pumpkin, apple, pecan – and breads and rolls, all washed down with apple cider and/or egg nog.

All in all, it was the one time of year when we could just sit down together and truly be thankful for all that we had and for all that was yet to come.

Author Bio:
Descended from the same bloodline that spawned the likes of James Russell, Amy and Robert Lowell, Margay Leah Justice was fated to be a writer herself from a young age. But even before she knew that there was a name for what she was doing, she knew one thing: She had a deep and unconditional love for the written word. A love that would challenge her in times of need, abandon her in times of distress, and rediscover her in times of hope. Through her writing, Margay has learned to cope with every curve ball life has thrown her, including the challenges of single parenting, the harsh realities of living in a shelter, coping with the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, and the roller coaster ride of dealing with a child who suffers from bipolar disorder and Asperger’s Syndrome. But along the way she has rediscovered the amazing power of words.
Margay currently lives in Massachusetts with her two daughters, two cats, and a myriad of characters who vie for her attention and demand that their own stories be told.

Blurb:
For more than a hundred and fifty years, the gray wolf has failed to roam the hills of Massachusetts, leading to the belief that they are extinct. But with a spattering of sightings across the Berkshires, the legend of the gray wolf comes to fruition. The product of that legend, Micah Sloane will go to great lengths to protect his kind from the threat of outsiders, who seek to exploit the legend for their own interests. One thing he didn’t count on, however, was finding his soul mate in the company of such men.

From the first time she predicted a stranger’s imminent death when she was little more than a child, Shiloh Beck knew she was different. Wishing to cultivate her gift, her parents made the fateful decision to enroll her in a private school for paranormally gifted children. Unbeknownst to them, the school was just a front for a research facility simply called the Institute, whose secret board members weaned gifted children from their families to exploit their gifts. Shiloh has spent the better part of her life trying to escape the Institute and reunite with the family she was told had abandoned her.

From their first meeting, Micah and Shiloh share a connection that goes beyond the normal to bond them in a way that love alone cannot. But before they can build a life together, they must deal with the fall-out when the legend of the wolves collides with the men behind the Institute.

Sloane Wolf is available here:
http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=242&category_id=107&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1

 Margay Leah Justice, http://margayleahjusstice.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/MargayLeahJustice


https://twitter.com/#!/Margay

Thank you Margay, for sharing your wonderful memories with us.

13 comments:

Margay Leah Justice said...

Thank you for having me here today, Sherry! i love that picture - it actually looks like it could've been taken somewhere in my neighborhood!

Kelly McClymer said...

Big families are great at the holidays. I do regret that we are too far from ours to travel on thanksgiving. But we manage it for Christmas. Great memories.

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday Margay!!! Sounds like your birthday was surrounded by very special times.

Your book sounds magical as well and now you have more to be thankful for and celebrate. Nice post. Have a fabulous day.

Margay Leah Justice said...

Thank you, Kelly! Yeah, holidays are always memorable in my family!

Margay Leah Justice said...

Thank you, Karen! I do have a lot to celebrate!

Farrah said...

I remember watching the Macy's parade Thanksgiving morning. Not sure why we stopped once we had kids but something I plan to bring back this year. Maybe it's because I don't typically doing the Thanksgiving cooking and we travel to nearby family members? Who knows. Still miss it and I know the kids would love watching it. :-) Thanks Margay for sharing your Thanksgiving memory. and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Sherry Gloag said...

It's a pleasure to have you here Margay. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Margay Leah Justice said...

Oh, parades are fun! They are a big part of our tradition. And thanks for the birthday wishes!

Margay Leah Justice said...

Thank you, Sherry!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Margay!! You've cause to celebrate for sure...birthday and an awesome book release (or should I say, exceptionally awesome book). Loved it.

I've never tried peanut butter filled dates rolled in sugar...but I'm thinking about giving it a whirl.

Great interview...it's nice learning about my favorite authors.

Have a wonderful day...and holiday.

Thanks for sharing Margay, Sherri.

Margay Leah Justice said...

Thank you, Kay Dee! Wow, I'm blown away by your praise.

Cheryl said...

Thanks for sharing your holiday memories, Margay. It's always interesting to think on such things this time of year.

Wishing you the best,

Cheryl

Margay Leah Justice said...

Thank you, Cheryl! Yes, it really is, and I've had so many good memories, it's hard to think of just one!