I woke up at 3:50 a.m. thinking about this blog.  Thanksgiving is coming and our minds are flooded with thoughts of food and getting together with family and friends for a special meal.  This brought to mind for me some unique food experiences I have had this year in my travels to Croatia.  The first was on the boat…

One evening a local fisherman came on board with his fresh catch of oysters.  Many passengers who love oysters were elated!  I had never tasted oysters before and had no big craving to do so.  However, anticipating the fisherman’s arrival, Darko, our wonderful, enthusiastic, charming tour director put his hand on my shoulder and said, “You will try oysters!”.  Well….sure!

This is a photo of me and my two dear friends at the moment I had just swallowed my first oyster.  They are smiling because they are thinking, “She did it and we don’t have to!”  My smile is fake actually…I am  not certain if the oyster is still slithering down or on its way to slithering back up!

Then there was a visit to the home of a priest….

We all sat around two long tables and were served home cooked smelts. Another first for me!  Ah, Darko must have known as he once again stood behind me with his hands on my shoulders and said, “You will try the smelts!”  The what??  Yikes!  Why ME?  Suddenly they appeared on the table with a whiff of a fishy smell…smelts!  Their eyes were staring at me…

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and bit into a smelt.  Not too bad actually.  The crunchiness of those little bodies being fried in batter was a bit fun.  I just needed a good dip to go with them!

At the conclusion of the meal, which consisted only of smelts, please notice that our table finished our plate and the other table did not!  No thanks to me by the way, but I was proud of us.  (Although some don’t look like they feel too good).

Another evening we went to the home of a Croatian family who had prepared a meal for us.  It was delightful!  I don’t remember much about the food except that it was good.  What I remember was the hospitality and strangers coming together to share a meal, becoming friends.  The children, parents, grandparents were all there with us.  It seemed important to them.

What a beautiful family.  I especially like the photo of the Mom and her daughter.  As I looked closer I noticed on the wall just behind them hangs a picture of Jesus and his disciples at the Last Supper, the Great Thanksgiving.  Oh YES!  Here, subtly yet profoundly present,  is the true meaning of it all.  We are invited to be one at the table of Christ.  It is about love, unity, fellowship, and the joy of being together!  (It is at this point, 4:30 a.m. in my bed, that I actually gave  a thumbs up to God and got up to write the blog)!

I pray yours is a GREAT THANKSGIVING !

nk

P.S.  I will begin a daily Advent blog on Monday November 28 and continue each week day through Christmas.  I invite you to join me here each weekday and please invite any others as well.  Just click “follow” if you would like the blog post to be automatically sent to your email each day.  We will anticipate and celebrate once again and always the coming of the Christ Child.

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