About twelve years ago, my oldest daughter and I decided to make a Thanksgiving tablecloth. I don’t really know where we got the idea, but we wanted something that would record memories for us. We put together a plain tablecloth and stamped it with fabric paint and Thanksgiving stamps. Then, on Thanksgiving, everyone at the table who could sign their names did – with a permanent marker.
Originally I wanted to embroider over the names, but honestly, the time involved was more than I had, so I left it just the way it was.
Over the years we have had new signatures as new people joined our family and friends at the table. Over those same years we had times where we cried over the names on the cloth that had been written by those who had passed away.
Each year after Thanksgiving, I carefully wash the cloth and put it up for next time, because many of those names can’t be rewritten by the guests that wrote them and I am in fear of seeing them fade away.
Someday my daughter will have that tablecloth, and by then it will be full of names. Each name holds a special place in our hearts, a special memory, and an honorary place at our Thanksgiving celebration year after year.
You don’t have to make your tablecloth from scratch – just buy a Thanksgiving themed cloth that has a lot of blank space on it. When your guests sit down at the table, have them sign their names and the date in permanent marker. It’s an awesome way to keep your memories alive and remember that Thanksgiving is all about thankfulness for all we have, and especially the people we love.
photo credit: Maegan Tintari
