I was talking with my sister the other night making plans for Thanksgiving. In the middle of our conversation, I realized this will be my fifth Thanksgiving without Jody. It seems so hard to believe.

Jody and I shared Thanksgiving meals with my sister and brother-in-law and their children for so many years. I have some memories that seem to repeat themselves every year. When the mashed turnips were placed on the table, one of the kids would always say: “Turnips! Yuck” and Jody would chime in with a hearty, “I love turnips,” only to be told, “Then you eat them.” And, he did.

Later, when it came time for dessert, the great debate would begin. Is it “PEE-can” or “puh-KAAN” pie? Since Jody was raised in Texas where pecan pie is the state pie, he insisted on the later pronunciation. The kids would always tease him insisting on the former. In any case, we all enjoyed a piece of pie.

The kids are now grown and have their own children. Since Jody passed, we still maintain those rituals surrounding turnips and pecan pie. And, in 2020, we started a new tradition. We leave an extra plate on the table in remembrance of the one we lost.