Happy Thanksgiving!

sunny, unseasonably warm, temps 24

It's Canadian Thanksgiving! Michael and I are finally together. Met at the airport in Regina (Saskatchewan) Friday night. with my older brother, Rob. What an amazing feeling. Two men I love standing there, waiting. And to get huge bearhugs from both. Made being away worth it!

What wasn't waiting was my luggage! It got lost. No big surprise, really. I'd booked it through from Houston, to nashville, to Denver to Regina. I've been extremely lucky with my luggage. Can't remember ever losing a bag. What made this a little stressful was that I'd lost the baggage tag!

Fortunately there wasn't anything irreplaceable in it. Jewelry, and this really nice embroidered evening coat I was hoping to wear to a formal dinner in Calgary on Tuesday and the bouchercon opening ceremonies and all the cocktail parties (and dinner with my US agent) Thursday. Bit of a shame, but not a disaster.

Fortunately it showed up the next day...yay. I can't begin to tell you how it feels to be with my family. Rob and Audi and their children, Kim, Adam and Sarah. Doug and Mary and two of their kids...Roslyn and Charlie. And Michael.

One of the photos above shows the cousins together, most in their Saskatchewan rough Rider green jerseys...on their way to the big football game...Saskatchewan vs Toronto. (toronto won). A friend of Adam's - Andy - is visiting from the UK, and he's spending the holiay with us. the other photo shows the kids, minius Kim - wearing the 'freebee' from Rob - little yellow rubber 'hardhats'. Very proud. Not many could carry off this look.... (no, don't say it).

I'm sitting right now at the dining room table, writing. all around me people are laughing, joking, talking, making bagels and serving fruit salad, pouring coffee...rob and audi have just moved to Regina (he's the deputy minister of transportation with the government here). this is the first time we've seen their home. Great, open-concept kitchen, living room, DR. So we're all together. Rob is basting the turkey...that's him up there too. The place smells of turkey. (and with six guys in the house, that's a blessing)

When our mother died ten years ago we realized unless we made an effort we ran the risk of drifting apart. All with busy lives. And that would be terrible. So once a year, around Thanksgiving, we get together.

The event at Murder By the Book was such fun!!! Saw old friend Catherine and Ron after decades! Saw Cay and Billie and the 'two J's'. FAbulous Dean (whose latest book stayed THREE weeks on the NYTimes list!!!) and handsome, generous, brilliant John, who works at the store and interviewed me. It was standing room only - and everyone was so welcoming.

But, of course, as wonderful as it was to see everyone there, the most glorious was McKenna. The owner of the store. Who recently lost her husband, David. Such a beautiful young woman. We talked about David. Not about his death, but about his life and his plans. McKenna's mother, Brenda, was there - so supportive. Making sure her daughter knows she's not alone.

McKenna and her friend and co-worker Anne will be at Bouchercon. when McKenna and I embraced and kissed we both leaned in the same direction - and almost lip-kissed. then spent the night kidding each other that 'people will talk'.

Early flight Friday morning to Nashville. Beth met me at the airport and we zipped into the city...like most people I only think of country/western music and the Grand ol Opry. which is tribute enough. But it became clear immediately that Nashville is that, and much more. A very, very beautiful city.

I was there for the Southern Festival of Books. One of the photos above shows the amazing state building, where the festival is held. Wonderful group of people. Very warm reception.

thank you to everyone who took time to come out! I just loved seeing you all.

then back to the airport...flight to Denver....then to Regina. Arriving about 10pm.

Phew. And now home. With Michael.

Happy thanksgiving!!!

Are you SURE that's the football???

rainy, cold, temps 5

Glove weather! Wore cashmere turtleneck and sweater for the first time this season. Don't think we'll be using the swimming pool again this year! But we're keeping it open because the family is coming from all over Canada for our annual reunion next week and the place just looks more attractive with the pool in operation and not covered by a slimy leaf strewn net.

My brother Rob and his wife Audi are coming from Edmonton. He's the assistant deputy minister of the Environment in Albert. We're very, very proud of him. And amazed that a man who couldn't remember to flush a toilet is now in charge of the environment. Don't tell me there isn't karma.

My brother Doug, whom you've met, is also coming, with his three kids, Brian, Roslyn and Charlie. And probably their dog, Buttercup, the hound from hell. Actually, Buttercup is much better...calming down. Her one outstanding eccentricity is her ability to eat anything - then poop it back out. Most of the fun of a Penny family reunion is seeing what comes out of Buttercup. Be warned, in case you're thinking of marrying one of us.

As well, two of Michael's sons are coming down. Just ordered the turkey. had an interesting conversation with the butcher.

I wanted grain fed, free ranger, organic turkey. pretty much a turnip shapped like a turkey is what I wanted. He offered wild turkey.

Wild turkey?

Does someone shoot them, I asked. Because I don't approve of hunting.

He looked at me understandably sceptically. I'm quite selective in my killing. It must be organic and grainfed, but not wild. Because wild would be unethical.

My hypocrisies were showing.

We ended up compromising and I ordered a 15 pound grain fed, non-wild, turkey.

Really looking forward to Thanksgiving. Ours here in Canada is about a month earlier than in the States. Not at all sure why there's the difference, but there is. It's a wonderful time for walks in the country, or horseback riding, or football games by the pond. Or watching Buttercup poop the missing football.

We also plan to bake some apple pies - told Pat we'd bake one for her. She called back yesterday and offered to bake it herself. Hmmmm.

We're in Montreal - Michael has his operation tomorrow. Need to be at the hospital by 9am...operation at 12:30 - home by mid afternoon we hope. Then we have a 6:15 am appointment with the doctor for a checkup on Friday.

I took the call and kept repeating...6:15am??? That's 6:15 in the MORNING????

Yup.

Will report to you tomorrow - without fail. I cannot express to you how much your support has meant, and does mean.

Thank you. Bless you.