Title: Snapshots - Georg's Thanksgiving Prayer
Setting: Thanksgiving 1962 Stowe, Vermont
Georg: 72
Maria: 47
Liesl: 41 (Calvin d. (m. 1942-1952) Agathe 20, Jonathan 17, Anna 14, Elias 12)
Friedrich: 39 (Gia (m.1946) Georg 14, Anthony 12, Carmen 9)
Louisa: 38 (Peter (m. 1946) Robert and Peter 15, Julia 14, Grace d. 1952) Alicia 7) Kurt: 36 (Joe)
Brigitta: 35 (John (m.1950) Elizabeth 7)
Marta: 33 (Robert (m. 1958) Lucas 2)
Gretl: 31 (Al (m. 1953) Margaret 8, Dottie 6, Henry 4, Barbara Ann 2, Edward 1)
Andrea: 23 (Louis e. August 1962) Lena: 21 (single, rooms with sister Maxine)
Maxine: 19 (single, rooms with sister Lena)
Emilia: 15
This is number 5 in the Snapshots series. Please see my profile for a chronological list of stories in this series.
Since the traffic stats are STILL broken, please r/r.
Thanksgiving Day November 28, 1962
Georg stood at the head of a long, elegant dining table, one that would rival any he had known in Austria. When Maria first wanted to purchase the table right after Friedrich got married, Georg quarreled with her over the size and of course, the expense. When it came to money, Maria usually gave in to his way of thinking, but this time she held her ground. With her hands on her swollen belly she made her point, "Georg, there is no other table that we have seen that will be able to expand enough to hold our entire family. "
"Darling, this table when opened to its full length seats 60 people! We won't need a table that large."
"You are being short-sighted, Georg," Maria replied. "Our family right now has already expanded since we settled here. We have three almost four more children, there are three children-in-law now, and three, soon-to-be five, grandchildren."
"Soon to be five?" Georg asked with a raise of his eyebrow.
"Louisa is carrying so large and so wide there is no way there is only one baby in there," Maria replied. "We already have to be able to seat 20 people and that's with a majority of our children still single. If our children are nearly half as fertile as you and me, our grandchildren could number into the thirties by the time it's all said and done. We need a very large, expandable table."
Georg backed off and told the clerk they would take the table. Now, as he stood here, at the head of it, as the head of the Family von Trapp and its 39 members, he was glad Maria had pushed him. In fact, for the last 25 years, Maria had been pushing him to make the right choices, he owed her so much of the happiness and pride that swelled in his heart.
Maria sat on his immediate right, Gretl strategically to hia left, and across from him was his Liesl. She was a grown woman now, most of his children were grown, but she was still his Liesl. He had missed so many of her formative years, first traveling and then hiding from his life.
Liesl had made quite the life for herself, and like her biological mother, she had done a lot of it by herself. She got married early and started having babies just as early, a honeymoon baby. Georg had been the masculine figure in young Agathe's life while Calvin was away at war and again when he died so tragically young. There was a close bond there, and not only because she was Agathe's namesake, but because he had so much influence in her life.
Georg raised his spoon and tapped his water glass to get the family's attention. Maria turned quickly and reached up for his hand. She had been concerned about the effect such a large gathering would have on Georg's health. The cooler air was setting in and the last winter had been a difficult one. Maria hoped and prayed the energy and vitality Georg gained during the summer would carry him through the harder months.
The family was so engrossed in their own conversations and with keeping rambunctious children entertained and out of trouble, they didn't hear the glass tapping, nor did they hear Georg clear his throat.
Georg looked at Maria and she nodded, there was still one sure fire way to get the family to pay attention.
Georg reached into his pocket and pulled out his old, silly whistle. He took a couple deep breaths and was sure to let them all the way out before blowing one long, steady tone to bring the entire table to full, silent attention.
When every eye was on him, Georg smiled, "That's better," he said and slid the whistle back into his pocket. "Knew I kept it for something."
"When are we going to eat Grandpa?" came the question from the precocious Elizabeth, Brigitta's daughter. She was just like her mother, smart, beautiful, and observant.
"In a few minutes, Sweetheart," Georg replied. "First, I have something I want to say."
It had been an interesting year. Eleven months ago, Friedrich and Kurt nearly came to blows at this very dining room table. Not two months later, Georg nearly died from pneumonia. Then Louisa struggled with what should have been her daughter Grace's 10th birthday. Still there had been triumphs as well. Georg had healed, he had fought back against the emphysema and got it under control. His first child with Maria, Andrea, got engaged and their middle two daughters, Maxine and Lena moved out of the farmhouse and were starting a successful music school. 1962 had been a heck of a year.
Georg began to speak, he had a surprise for the family, especially for his Maria, but first, he had a few things he wanted to say.
With Maria's hand clasped in his, he started. "Yesterday, as you know, your mother and I celebrated our 25th anniversary. Twenty-five years ago, the seven oldest children, Maria, and I came together, and in time, we became one. Now, that one has grown! We have gone from a family of nine to a family of thirty-nine, but it isn't the size of this family that really resonated with me. It is so much more than that."
Georg swallowed the lump forming in his throat. "This is a very special Thanksgiving, for your Mother and me, to have so many members of our family all gathered together in this house.
Georg's gaze turned to Louisa. She was the very picture of Agathe, with blonde hair and trim figure. Sometimes, if he looked too quickly or in the dark, he would swear just for a second Agathe was there. Thanksgiving had become Louisa's favorite holiday only a few years after arriving in America. In fact, it was his Louisa that started the family on traditional Thanksgivings in the first place.
Georg continued with his speech. "We know some of you had a more difficult time this year than others. There has been loss, success, joy, and sorrow, but we survived it. We're all here. That's the important thing."
Georg looked over at Maria then at Friedrich and his wife Gia. Their children were just like their father, people pleasers, sometimes to the point of their own detriment, but that was one of the main things Georg loved about them.
"We're family," Georg stated with conviction. "We have learned to face problems together, we learned to be honest with one another, and through the bad times and rough spots we learned that one day's difficulties can turn into the next day's blessings. I firmly believe that we find strength in God and each other."
Maria looked up at Georg. He swallowed another wave of emotion then squeezed his hand. It was true, the family gave them strength, but Georg was truly the center of the family.
"When Louisa came home with a turkey and sweet potatoes twenty years ago, so that we could have a family Thanksgiving before Friedrich left for the Navy, she started a tradition. You all know what I mean. We go around the table and we just say what we are thankful for. Well, this year, I want to make a change, if that is alright with you, Louisa."
Louisa blushed. She was still the tomboy of the family, she didn't like flattery even when it was due her. "Of course, Father," Louisa replied as she reached over to still her squirming youngest daughter.
"What I would like to do," Georg continued. "Is for each of us to look to our right and tell the person next to us why you are thankful for them."
Brigitta bit back a chuckle. Georg had been very specific with how he set up the seating arrangements. Maria was to his right, this was meant for her.
Brigitta looked at Gretl. Gretl had witnessed most of the struggles Georg and Maria had faced that year. She lived only fifteen minutes from their parents and would quickly come to help if they needed it. Gretl's eyes were shining, she knew something.
Three days earlier
"How are you feeling now, Father?" Gretl asked as she held a cup of water for Georg to drink. A trip to the doctor had unfortunately triggered a COPD episode resulting in nearly a half hour of coughing that left Georg exhausted.
"I'm okay," Georg replied. "Where's your Mother? She was just here."
Gretl nodded, "She went to the bathroom, but I think she just needed a minute to herself. It's been a long time since you had such a rough exacerbation."
Georg nodded, "Weather's changing. She's been having a rough time. She read in the almanac we are in for a cold winter and she is frightened. She even suggested not having Thanksgiving supper."
"But everyone already made arrangements to come. The kids are all excited to see their cousins," Gretl replied. "I guess we can have it at our place, but it'll be a tight fit."
"No," Georg replied. "We are having our Thanksgiving supper right here in the house, but this year, I want to do something different. I heard a song on the radio, and it just…it's this family, it's your Mother. I want to sing it to her. I want to show her and let her know everything is okay. Will you help me?"
Gretl gladly agreed and kept Maria busy so that Georg could practice. Gretl felt that this idea was going to be just what Maria needed to see things truly were going to be alright.
"We can start with Maria, of course," Georg suggested. "Ladies first, my Darling."
Maria was seated between Georg and Gretl's husband Al. Maria always liked Al, though at first, Georg disliked him. Al had caused trouble for Georg at the plant, and that left Maria unsettled about Al's pursuit of Gretl, but Gretl liked him, Gretl loved him. He was an important part of their family now.
Maria smiled, "Al, I am thankful that you are such a strong provider, not just for Gretl and the children, but for all of us. You have helped us so much this year, sometimes without being asked. I'm thankful for your heart."
Al smiled then turned to Louisa's husband Peter and said his piece. Peter was seated next to his and Louisa's oldest child by seven minutes, Robert.
"I'm thankful you are growing into a strong young man, with your mother's heart and spirit," Peter told the boy but he looked at Louisa as he said it. "We are blessed, truly blessed, to have a son that is so full of love and life."
The family continued to go around. It took some time for all those capable of speaking to say their piece. Some of the children were just too young, though they enjoyed the sounds of their family's voices. When it was Kurt's turn, he had to speak to Friedrich.
"I'm thankful for your understanding," Kurt told his older brother. "And your ability to forgive and accept me for who I am and what I am. You're my brother, my family, and I love you."
Friedrich shut his eyes and inhaled. He wasn't necessarily comfortable with his brother's lifestyle, but he was comfortable with his brother.
Friedrich's person was Joe, Kurt's significant other. This setup was classic Georg, he designed all of this up with purpose.
Friedrich took a deep breath. "I'm thankful you care about my brother," he told Joe. "He is a good person, and has a good heart. He deserves all the love and respect in the world and I'm thankful to see you giving him that."
Finally, it came full circle and it was Gretl' turn. Georg had set it up this way, that she would go just before him so he could surprise Maria and the family by singing to them for the first time in nearly eight years.
"I'm thankful for you, Father, because you have taught us all what it means to be strong," Gretl began. "You have overcome so much loss and heartache and you are still such a firm presence in all our lives even when we are farther apart than any of us wish. There is nothing you can't do when you set your mind to it, and today, you have set your mind to a very special surprise for all of us. I'm so happy to be part of that and so proud to be your daughter."
Gretl got up and went to get the guitar. She walked over to Georg using a similar smile to the one Maria always used when she was trying to persuade him to do something and he was about to give in.
"Thank you, Gretl," Georg replied. "I'm touched you feel that way and think I am all those things, but the truth is, I wouldn't be anything or anywhere without you, Maria."
Maria was looking at Georg with teary eyes, love radiating out of her blue gaze. Anyone that saw Georg and Maria knew they were as deeply in love in the present as they had been at an alter in Austria 25 years earlier.
"I'm thankful for all of you," Georg said as he sat down and started to settle the guitar on his leg. "This family means the world to me, having us all together, setting aside one day to stop and really think about how important family is, how much it all means. For me, Maria, you are the center of this world. Without you, I'd probably be a cranky old man in a nursing home with children that never visit because I was such a boar and made so many selfish mistakes." Georg took a deep breath, "Let me do this," he prayed silently. "You saved me, Maria. You saved me from loneliness, from pain, from so many other horrors and thank you is just not enough. There aren't enough words for me to describe how much I love you, but I'm going to try."
When Georg began to strum the string of their old guitar, Maria's breath caught in her chest. Georg rarely played the guitar anymore, he preferred the piano when he wanted to express himself through music or if he was bored. The light, almost tentative strumming brought her back to Austria, to the first time she heard him play, to the time they fell in love.
When Georg began to softly sing, Maria gasped. Georg hadn't sang openly in a long time, she missed the sound of his voice. Though he was speak-sing to her, a couple lines here or there, this was indeed something special.
"We've come to the time in the season when family and friends gather near. To offer a prayer of thanksgiving for blessings we've known through the year. To join hands and thank the Creator and now that Thanksgiving is due; this year when I count my blessings, I'm thanking the Lord he made you."
As Georg sang he looked at his family. Since Louisa first pushed them to celebrate Thanksgiving before Friedrcih deployed back in 1942 until today, this was the one day, the one definite time all of the children and grandchildren were together.
Georg remembered that day like it was yesterday.Something he and Maria were both skeptical about had turned into a truly beloved tradition.
November 1942
Louisa appeared in the kitchen doorway with a huge bundle in her arms. It was so heavy she could barely get inside without the precious package slipping.
"Louisa, what on earth is that?" Maria asked as she washed vegetables and snapped beans for supper.
"A turkey," Louisa replied. "For Thursday."
"Thursday?" Maria inquired. "Am I missing someone's birthday? Besides, aren't we more of a sausage and pork family if we are going to acquire any meat?"
"We are," Louisa replied. "But it's Thanksgiving and just because there's a war on doesn't mean we can't have a good meal."
"I still don't understand," Maria replied. "We are thankful to the Lord for his blessings every day, not just once a year. Seems silly really. How did you manage to acquire such a large, uh…"
"Bird," Louisa supplied. "Saved up a month's worth of ration stamps and bought it with my butter and egg money. I even wrote down how to cook it and what goes with it too."
Maria thought for a moment about Louisa's excitement. She wasn't the type to get overly focused or excited about something like this. In fact, when they had been invited the previous year to the Steed's home for Thanksgiving supper, Louisa chose to stay home.
"I'm sure the meal will turn out splendidly," Maria smiled. "This will be a large undertaking for sure, something the entire family will have to do together."
Louisa nodded slowly, a quick shadow of sadness crossing her face as she began to lay out the rest of the ingredients she had negotiated for in town. That's when it dawned on Maria, Friedrich was to ship out for France on December 1. This was probably the last time the entire family would do something together for awhile.
"Louisa," Maria said softly. "This is a lovely idea, and while we don't necessarily need to set a day apart to be thankful for all we have, it's still nice to do."
Louisa smiled, "I think so, and you always say, America is where we are now, we should have some of their traditions, but look, I got enough cheesecloth to roll two strudels and some raspberry preserves to make linzer tarts. A little taste of our old home in our new home."
"I'll make a few extra for Friedrich to take along with him," Maria said. She knew that this would push Louisa to talk to her.
"Yes," Louisa replied. "That's a good idea. I'm going to miss him, you know?"
"I know," Maria replied. "We'll miss him too, we will all miss him."
There was a flurry of activity in the household the next couple of days. Georg and the boys were busy cleaning every nook and cranny when they weren't at the factory. The girls were peeling, coring, blending, measuring, even the littlest of them was helping, keeping everyone entertained with her antics and joyous smile.
When it was finally time to celebrate, Maria laid a delicate lace tablecloth on the kitchen table and Liesl and Gretl set it with the new set of dishes Georg had acquired for Maria's last birthday and topped each one with perfectly folded cloth napkins Maria made from leftover curtain fabric. When she first presented them to Georg, he had teased her about her talent for finding uses for excess drapery material, however, they made the table seem warm and elegant.
When it was time to eat, the girls set out the dishes they had prepared for the meal, following the extensive notes Louisa took in town. There were snap peas and green beans, yams with apples, pumpernickel bread with churned butter, cranberry and apple chutney, sweet and6 sour pumpkin, and the final showstopper, a 25lb roasted turkey with chestnut stuffing.
Georg gazed at the very large bird sitting in front of him. "Well, it isn't schnitzel with noodles but it'll have to do," he remarked with a wink at Louisa. "I think you should say the blessing, Louisa. This was all your idea, aftet all. Let's all bow our heads…"
Louisa was proud Georg had offered to let her say the blessing over the food, only she had a different idea. "Father, can we go around the table and just say what we are thankful for? I am so grateful that we are all here together even if only for a few more days."
With Georg's quiet consent, the tradition was born.
WIth a family so large, it was nearly impossible to get everyone in one place more than a few times a year, so they made Thanksgiving their goal, to always be together, and they hadn't missed one since Friedrich and Kurt came home from the war.
November 22, 1945
"Kurt," Maria called out. "Come taste this relish, it's missing something.'
Kurt had arrived home two weeks ago. He had traveled with Friedrich from Germany to England, then the two had been separated. Friedrich had to process out through the medical corp and it seemed, like most government procedures, it was taking longer than expected.
Kurt had lost a good bit of weight in the service, and while still shorter than Friedrich and even Louisa, he had a good, healthy build and the warmest smile. If Maria looked closely, she could see a little bit of Georg in the way Kurt carried himself, but moreso, the young man was all his mother.
"More salt," Kurt replied after one bite. "And maybe more sugar."
"Thank you," Maria laughed as she continued to work on the large holiday meal the family would enjoy later that day.
The girls were busy as well as Georg. Georg had kept it light for Kurt, allowing his son to relax and reintegrate. Georg knew how difficult that was, going from a war zone where every breath might be your last, to being back in the family farmhouse taste testing relish. It was a big change, a hard change, but Kurt was doing well with it.
In fact, the entire family had been doing well since VE Day. It felt like a lot of what they had wished for their homeland was going to eventually come true. It was free, at the very least, from Hitler's rule, and now the people there could work out what kind of country Austria was going to be. This was going to be a very happy Thanksgiving for the family, having at least one of two empty chairs filled.
The family was let down that Friedrich wasn't going to be home in time for the holiday. They held out hope he might make Christmas, but Georg explained the rigors of a post-deployment. The only one that seemed to struggle was Maria. She wanted her family back safe and sound.
The house smelled like Heaven as the turkey roasted, pies baked, and vegetables steamed. When it was nearly time to eat, the little girls set the table. "Mama," six-year-old Andrea told Maria. "We set a spot for Friedrich too, to make him come home faster. We can wish it."
Maria sighed and stroked Andrea's long hair, "Wishing doesn't always make it so, Sweetheart."
"I know," Andrea replied. "But I'm still wishing it."
Georg called the family to the table with his old Navy whistle, it was still one of the surest ways to get everyone's attention. They quickly scrambled to grab their seats and gasped in awe and delight as Maria presented a beautifully roasted turkey for Georg to carve.
Before eating, the family once again went around the table stating what he or she was thankful for with Kurt, Friedrich, and Liesl's husband Calvin's survival of the war on the top of everyone's list.
"Let's all bow our heads," Georg directed. "Kurt, will you offer the blessing this year, son?"
Kurt smiled, it was always an honor to be asked to offer the prayer. "For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful. Lord, thank you for this family, this place to come home to, and all of the love and support we continue to give one another. Bless Friedrich wherever he is now and bring him home as soon as you can."
"Amen," came Friedrich's tenor voice from the frame of the back doorway.
Maria let out a squeal of delight and rushed to her son, her arms flung open. Georg gestured for the rest of the family to wait, but the little girls were too excited and crashed into their brother's legs. Friedrich laughed and hugged his siblings, his nieces and nephews, then finally he embraced Georg. The two men held onto each other tight for several minutes. Now, it truly was a happy Thanksgiving.
Georg turned his head, scanning the entire table before settling his eyes on Maria and looking at her as if she were the only person in the room.
"I'm grateful for the laughter of children. The sun and the wind and the rain," he crooned. "The color of blue in your sweet eyes, the sight of a high ballin' train. The moonrise over a prairie; old love that you've made new. This year when I count my blessings, I'm thanking the Lord he made you. This year when I count my blessings, I'm thanking the Lord he made you."
Georg paused for a few bars, playing a musical interlude. Tears were freely falling down Maria's cheeks as she placed her hand on his thigh. It was such a small gesture, but that's what their life was like, it was about the smallest things that had grown, like their family, into something bigger, into something good.
Georg went into the last stanza of the song, his eyes never leaving Maria's. This part especially was meant only for her.
"And when the time comes to be going, it won't be in sorrow or tears. I'll kiss you goodbye and go on my way, grateful for all of the years. I thank you for all that you gave me, for teaching me what love can do. Thanksgiving day for the rest of my life, I'm thanking the Lord he made you.Thanksgiving day for the rest of my life, I'm thanking the Lord he made you."
As George strummed the final bars, he grinned sheepishly and shrugged his shoulders. Gretl stood to take the guitar from Georg who soon found his arms full of Maria.
Georg held Maria close, whispering nonsense to her just so she could hear his voice. "I love you so much," Maria whispered. "That you did this, this was…"
Georg pulled back and eased Maria back into her own chair. "I heard it on the radio and I just knew I had to…it was perfect for you, for us."
Maria wiped tears from her eyes and leaned over to kiss Georg one more time. Georg kissed her back causing the younger children to groan.
Brigitta spoke up quickly with a lilt of laughter in her voice, "Don't you two start, the food is getting cold. Can we say the blessing, Father?"
"Yes," Georg replied. "Yes, let us all say the blessing. Join hands and bow your heads please."
Georg uttered the first syllable, then all of the family joined in offering their prayer of Thanksgiving for the food on the table, the joy in their hearts, and the love of family. When the prayer was ended Georg looked up once more at the long table filled with all those he loved. His Thanksgiving prayer had been answered.
Happy Thanksgiving to all those who celebrate the holiday. I hope you enjoyed this little piece.
Georg's "speech" is borrowed, with slight alterations, from the speech Mike Brady makes at the end of A Very Brady Christmas.
The song Georg sings is entitled "Thanksgiving Prayer" and was performed by Johnny Cash on an episode of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman in 1994, but i backdated it by thirty or so years because I felt like it fit.
New chapter of Quittin Time coming out on Friday. Have a great day!