Thanksgiving’s over — thankfully.

Without a doubt, Thanksgiving has, and continues to be, my favorite holiday.

As a child and continuing for more than 50 years, our family, along with assorted relatives, celebrated the day at our “farm” in Strykersville. There was room for everyone, the dining room table sat 16 in relative comfort (the table had eight leaves) and the kids ate in the living room and adjoining TV room. The total number ranged from 30 to 45.

My wonderful mother-in-law, who loved peace and quiet, should have received a medal for putting up with the chaos with such good humor as the only quiet time was around the card tables after dinner when euchre and pinochle games got under way.

One year, there was room for one youngster at the dining room table. Our son, Bill, then age 15 and the second oldest of the cousins, was chosen.

He often said it was the worst Thanksgiving he ever recalled.

For while all his cousins were having great fun in another room, he was “stuck” with the adults.

After my mom died and we no longer had the farm, each of we six siblings started our own traditions.

One tradition that has never stopped, however, is the annual football game now played in a field near our house and organized by our son, Christopher.

This year, when the gang of about 20 met at the house, we met Patrick, now a college freshman, who grew up in Connecticut then moved to Kentucky with his dad, mom and sister. His father, my nephew and godchild, rarely returns to Western New York and so no one had ever met him.

His uncle, who at age 52, was the oldest player and took a lot of ribbing for that, suggested the game be taken over by the “younger generation” — that thought was nixed in a minute.

After the game, hungry and muddy, the players descended at our house for lunch.

Our daughter and her husband have taken over dinner at their home, but because the kitchen is torn up and being remodeled, dinner was moved to our house — but she cheerfully took over the cooking.

A very difficult jig-saw puzzle, which we had all been working on since early Wednesday, was laid out on the dining room table.

The puzzle lovers in the family worked on it right up until the last minute when we covered the puzzle with the table pad. The minute dinner was over, the puzzle was uncovered and all gathered around to try to finish it before Friday. No such luck. I’ll probably have to finish it next week.

To repeat, Thanksgiving is over — thankfully.

•••

My thanks extends to the fact that Black Friday is over. Who ever thought of that dreadful name should be forced to stand in a line at a store for a whole day.

When I hear the term Black Friday, it reminds me of Good Friday.

What happened to the expression “the day after Thanksgiving?”

•••

John Dixon from Bo’ness, Scotland, who has become a friend after we solved his inquiry about Ina Ritchie, the 1912 Bo’ness Fair queen, e-mailed a photo of all the fair queens who gathered in 1951 to honor that year’s queen.

Audrey Gordon, of North Tonawanda, as you may recall, solved the riddle, identifying Ina as her aunt. I hope Audrey lets us know when she hears from John.

•••

For all you seniors out there who’d like to relive your prom days, North Tonawanda Peer Leadership group at the high school is sponsoring a Senior Citizen’s Prom on Dec. 6.

Sugar and Jazz, led by Frank Lorango, will play for dancing with nostalgic music from the Big Band era. And of course, there’ll be prom photos and food.

The event is free and tickets can be reserved by calling the guidance office at the high school, 807-3648.

•••

Now, don’t start yelling if you don’t agree with the following, but Bev Rasch thought some readers might just enjoy it.

Healthcare Bill summed up in one paragraph.

Let me get this straight. We’re going to maybe have a health care plan written by a committee whose head says he doesn’t understand it, passed by a congress that hasn’t read it but exempts themselves from it, signed by a president who also hasn’t read it and who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury secretary who didn’t pay his taxes, overseen by a surgeon general who is overweight, and financed by a country that’s nearly broke.

What could possibly go wrong?

•••

Toyota sent a letter asking me to trade in my Camry. Funny, how, just a couple years ago, they couldn’t find any record of our having purchased the car. The issue was cleared up, I turned the car in, went off to happily buy a VW. Lo and behold, here’s the letter inviting me to turn in my Toyota and buy a new one. Seems they are looking for pre-owned Camrys. Look somewhere else.

•••

A cryptic note from a reader who agreed with the fact that there are too many signals in the Twin Cities.

“I’ve grown old waiting for traffic lights to change,” the e-mail said.

Contact community editor

Barbara Tucker at 693-1000, ext. 110 or e-mail barbara.tucker@

tonawanda-news.com