Thanksgiving of 1989 was an interesting one for my family, to say the very least.

The Tuesday before, my maternal grandmother passed away unexpectedly in her sleep. I was reminded of it the other day when watching television and a family had to "make do" with pizza for Thanksgiving dinner. That is what we had that year, pizza, in a hotel room, 200 miles from home for my family and 800 for my aunt's family.

I really don't think that I have had a better Thanksgiving, believe it or not. Sure it was sad, but we were all together, which happens very rarely. Best of all we spent the time remembering that my grandma is a very special person.

A week later she was featured in the Milbank newspaper's About Town column. I still have that article put away in my scrapbook. My Grandma was responsible for many programs for seniors as well as donating ten outfitted Barbies to those less fortunate, the outfits being handmade, at Christmas time. She taught me so much about giving from the bottom of my heart.

This has nothing to do with adoption because you would have never guessed by her actions that my brother or I were adopted. It made no difference to my grandma. She loved us just the same. She was a very special Grandma to me and my brothers and cousins, Mom to my mom and aunt, and an important contributor to her community. I think about her more at Thanksgiving than at any other time of the year.

© © 2000 Brandy Coppersmith