On Thanksgiving Day, my son Chris called to wish me Happy Thanksgiving. (I know that it is nearly Christmas, but I am way behind.) We chatted for awhile and he told me about the gathering of family on turkey day in his part of the country. The family group sounded fairly large this year. It included Chris, his brother and financee, his brother's child, their mom (adoptive), their dad (divorced from the mom)and his brother's birth mom and a few others.

It was funny when he mentioned that his brother's birth mom was invited. He quickly mentioned it was because she lived in the same city. Think it occurred to him that I might feel slighted because I was not invited - maybe not - just a guess. Honestly, I am envious of her being there, but not upset.

Chris and I live several states apart, and so far he spends all his holidays with his adoptive family, except for the one birthday that he spent with us. Although I would love to have him here for a holiday, we are usually elsewhere anyways on holidays. He thoughtfully calls though, and I appreciate that tremendously.

Okay, I know you are asking by now what does any of this have to do with "Southern Roots." I am getting there in my roundabout rambling way. When I flew to see Chris that first reunion meeting, I did not want to overwhelm him with an extravagant gift. However, I wanted to take him something that would acknowledge his southern roots. I think he enjoys knowing about his heritage; I hope so at least.

We had been talking and emailing alot for months prior our first face-toface. Therefore, I knew many of his interests and he had mentioned that he loved to cook. I take a small measure of the credit for that as his other mother (his adoptive mother) does not like to cook. Both his birth dad and I have enjoyed cooking for years.

Our first visit together, I brought him a few Southern cookbooks. When we chatted this past Thanksgiving night, he told me about his contribution to their turkey dinner. The stuffing was part of his dinner assignment. He told me that in honor of his heritage on my side of the family, he made cornbread stuffing! Yep, cornbread is very Southern! Think that made me smile? Oh, yeah, it did.