Audrey Bechler's Paintings: The Holiday season, Thanksgiving

Wet Snow 23x23 framed 31x31
hanging in the hall

Lucy, Dougs partner’s daughter graduated this spring and now works at Reality Kitchen, a non profit business that employ and train young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Lucy asked me to hang my paintings on the walls of the bakery, restaurant. Now there are 22 abstract and realistic paintings on display until another artist wants the space.

This year about 25 relatives of Christopher’s wife family came to Eugene for the Thanksgiving holiday. This is the second large gathering I attended at Christopher’s home for Thanksgiving. I remember it was years ago, well time can seem like it was a short or long span. It is all relative. Diane, Chris’s wife comes from a large family of 7 children. Michel drove the farthest from Montana, Haily, Diane’s daughter and RB from CA , and a brother, and family, daughter and family, sister and family and Diane’s mother from Ashland. They all are staying a few days so I get to know them all a little better as I get to have three great meals and evenings at Christ’s house. In all my life Thanksgivings have been gatherings of family and friends, all wonderful memories.

The day was clear and showers however the full moon did appear briefly. My friend Prem from Ya Po Ah and I arrived about 2:45 to a house full of people, talking, cooking, reading, playing cards and 3 small children playing. The cooked 26 pound turkey was on the counter. One was overwhelmed with smells and a chorus of sounds. While there was still light we all went out for a family photo. I took the 4 four generation picture, the matriarch grandmother, her two daughters, Diane’s daughters Cortney and Haily and Cortney’s two children.

The living room had been set up with 3 long tables with table cloths and candles for our sit-down dinner. The turkey was carved, the food set out on the dining room table and we filled our plates and all sat down together. After several toasts we concentrated on the food. There is indeed a lot to be thankful for. After the pumpkin pie everyone gravitated to the living room to relax, except the children who never wear out. A few young adults played with them. Prem and I left for Ya Po AH about 9 o’clock. I talked to Doug on the phone. He and Christina went to Camden where Lucy’s grandparents live. There were about ten there for dinner.

Some of my favorite painting from storage that now hang in my room and in the hall