My mom and I had a tradition.... prepare a full on turkey dinner for my brother and his friends on New Years day. My mother loved those boys as her own and she made the day very festive and fun and all about them and their favourite foods.

Only problem.... they were usually pretty hungover from too much partying the night before. Not many appetites in the room though willing spirits all around. They loved my mother just as much as she loved them and so they forced themselves to eat all the goodies put in front of them. It was sometimes painful to watch. They always did the clean up too. That was probably the best part of the tradition. Everyone gathered in the kitchen while all the guys did the dishes. My mom would get so much joy from the house full of talk and laughter. She'd grin from ear to ear all evening long. They'd bring her gifts and shower here with love.

They'd take left overs home with them and anticipate the next year's gathering at my mother's house.... hangovers and all.

My mom has since passed on but the memory of those days sticks with all of us. My brother's daughter has now picked up the tradition and she now gathers my brother's friends together with her own for a festive day of feasting and laughter.

Have a wonderful day everyone..... the start of new beginnings.