For a while it seemed pudding wasn't special to me while thinking about this topic. I remember the plastic stuff we buy at the grocery store. Meh.
Only after going through my first Thanksgiving without my dad being here did this topic make sense. He's been in the hospital since Saturday because he lost too much weight from not eating since I got back from vacation 15 days ago. I've always thought him invincible in his younger days, and always a creature of habit. I put on the game face for the rest of the family and we had a simple dinner of potluck at our house, no turkey, no cranberries. It wasn't the same without him.
Reflecting back to memories of my youth took me a while, but when I saw the flashback in slow motion, it dawned on me. I remember mom making Jell-0 pudding from the box, putting the warm chocolate pudding into the yellow tinted glass bowl. I think she still has that bowl, faded and a little stained on the inside, but still on her shelf waiting for another chance to be used again. My dad loves sweets, so much so that anytime we have a holiday dinner, we all make sure we have something nice for dessert, for him to dig into with his cup of coffee. I remember mom telling me to mind my manners and ask him if he wanted any before I had mine. He never refused a bowl of pudding be it vanilla or chocolate. He'd sit in the parlor and I would get the bowl and we would both eat pudding watching TV, him with his spoon and me with my fingers. We didn't need to talk (he's a man of few words, not like me ), I don't recall what was on the tube but as I write this I remember the feeling of that worn out carpet on my legs as I sat on the floor, the itchy fabric of the sofa on my shirtless back, and that green screened console tube TV blaring out some sitcom show from Carol Burnett to Bonanza. Been so busy living my life, I forgot to remember my life! Who knows if this will be the last Thanksgiving I have with him or my mom, but I am grateful to know he's still here.
Without you guys knowing, you have made the last coulple of days very comforting for me. You take me away from my bullshit I create in my mind, the running in place mentally diminishes, the stress of being the rock of the family gets checked and put away, and I get to sit back and just cruise in the corner of this forum and have fun with everyone. Thank you sirs.
Thank you Macion for allowing me a chance to share a story of a simple dessert and it's affect on man. Some of my comments on other threads were sometimes edgy, but forgive me if they offended anyone. They were not designed to do that.
I have rambled on a bit, my eyes are dry now and I feel better for writing this. This was just the right thread I needed. Macion, I am not looking for the prize offered by you, a very generous contest I may add, so please do not count me in the mix of judging. I already have my prize..................friendship.
), then to Atlanta for a few days for the con, then up through Connecticut to Portland Maine and the overnight ferry to Nova Scotia, up to Halifax for visit with folks for a few days then over to Summerside PEI for more visiting, then finally back home. it was a great trip - took me about 2 1/2 weeks all told. 
