The Welcome Table: An Annual Online Thanksgiving Meal
[Melissa stands up, taps her fork against her glass, and clears her throat. The conversation around the table dies down. She looks at everyone at the table.]
We do this every year: Come together as a community and have a virtual meal before we scatter to our actual meals. Unless, that is, you do not celebrate Thanksgiving. But I hope that you’ll join the table for virtual food and company even if you don’t follow this tradition offline.
We’ve virtually eaten together since 2009. That’s when this tradition began. There are some people hurting at this table. For some people, this pre-meal is what gets them through their real meal later in the week. People have written that they’ve printed out this yearly post and comments and left the paper in their purse because it helped to have a tangible reminder that there were people out there who got it. Who weren’t going to ask them when they were going to hurry up and have children. Who weren’t going to cringe when someone spoke the name of a child they lost.
We are all so different. All of us. Around this table. But we have this one facet of our lives — and yes, even though it may be a big, overpowering one for you right now, it is only one facet of who you are — where we overlap: infertility or adoption or loss. And I am so thankful, so grateful, that I found all of you. Everyone needs a You-shaped space where they can be themselves. And that’s what I have here.
So every year, I ask people to bring a virtual dish to our meal. Place it in the comment section, explaining what you brought and why. And say anything else you need to say before sitting back down to enjoy the company. Update about where you are; your emotional state.
We’re an international group, hailing from countries all around the world. So while Thanksgiving is an American tradition, I hope that everyone around the world feels as if they can participate. (Especially our Canadian neighbours who celebrated Thanksgiving weeks ago.) I’d love for your dish to come from your culture or country. Don’t worry about the contents on the table clashing.
As always, I am bringing stuffing. It’s comfort food; mushy and soggy and warm.
So what did you bring and what do you want to say to the community?
And please, start eating as everyone is introducing their dish. We don’t want the food to get cold and there are so many of us at this table. Thank you so much for coming, and I’m going to carry the warmth of this meal with me for the rest of this week.
4 comments
American Thanksgiving makes me think of my Minnesota grandmother, and Grandma loved pie (and made excellent pie too!). So I’ll bring the apple pie, warm from the oven (with some ice cream on the side, if you like it that way). I’ve been sick for the past week or so, but I am on the mend, and an advantage of virtual gatherings is no germs will be passed along! 😉 I am thankful for this community, for the friends I’ve made here, and for you, dear Mel. <3 Thank you for bringing us together, at this time of year and throughout the year.
I’ll bring mashed potatoes and gravy to our virtual feast. I’m glad we are still gathering together. <3 I'm actually traveling for Thanksgiving this year, something I haven't done (and prefer not to do if I'm being honest) in twenty years. Thinking of everyone and hope everyone is comfy at home or traveling safely and smoothly!
I’m here! Stuffing with gravy (stove top from the box 🫣) is my favorite so that’s what I’ve brought. I am cranky about holidays. Well, I’m pretty cranky most of the year. I think I was born a curmudgeon. I could relate to Oscar the grouch from Sesame Street when I was a kid. Anyway…life is chaotic on a regular day and I can barely keep up with daily chores so add in the decorating, special foods, presents, events, etc and I’m tired and overwhelmed. I know I could opt out and I do quite a bit, but people in my family depend on certain traditions, so here we are. I’m happy to have the community that is accepting, kind and supportive. Happy to be here, thanks for the invite!
I’m here! I often bring a pavlova, the NZ meringue dessert, laden with fresh strawberries that are on the shelves, and promising a summer to come. However, in the spirit of future travels, I’ll bring instead a seasonal baklava, made with local berry fruit mince, spices, and nuts, that has in recent years become an end of year staple of mine. I won’t be making it this year, and I will miss it, so thanks for the opportunity to enjoy it virtually!
My wishes are for everyone to have safe and happy holidays through to and beyond the New Year. My message to all is to embrace what we have when we have it. Life is fleeting, and we need to enjoy it as much as possible, and fill it with love. There has been much this year not to be grateful for, but this community is one, the friends I’ve made here who are part of my life and support system now, and I thank you for being a link keeping us together, and embracing all of us no matter our situations. Love to all.