One day last week it dawned on all of our children that in one short week all of our recent high school graduates, along with "friendly cousins" would be heading off to University. Though we have come to this spot in the road before, we have always found our way back together and to each-other for Thanksgiving. A day of great feasting and gratitude.

And this is where a serious turn in the road is about to happen. This Thanksgiving we will not be sitting around the same table, eating our same foods, playing our same games, nor watching Monty Python together.  No, some of us must remain at our University because it is only a four day weekend and too far to travel. 

The kids said,"Let's have one last family dinner when we are all together", minus one mind you. Zaina is still on her world tour visiting family all over the globe. 

So we pulled together the bounty of our gardens.

 Splashed in the pool.

Had riveting and hysterically funny conversations. ……thank you Vern.

Fancy carried bread to the brie.

Favorite Family Feast.

Ate Cake. Doesn't cake have it's own food group category? No? I'm sure it does….really.

Re-told stories, posed for the parental factors who act like paparazzi and were just together for one last time.

Tomorrow the first of them go off. This morning I sent this sweet girl a facebook response to her post "Today is my last day in Maryville." No say it isn't so. 

Gillian, we wish you well, much success, lots of fun and of course studying too, and remember that we love you MORE. 

Thursday, Zaina starts her "super senior" year of university,. Sunday Mimi heads back to Vanderbilt, and a couple days later Ethan heads to Brandeis in Boston. 

But we still have Seth and O to keep us company. Yay! 

For all of you who are departing know that care packages are on the way, yep with knitted goods. Scarves and hats for everyone.  

Secretly, my heart is breaking. I just put the hats and scarves in for good measure…but my heart is breaking.

Back tomorrow with even more cheeriness………Thanks for enduring me today, my dear blogging friends.