Thanksgiving is, without a doubt, one of my favorite times of the year. It's earned that spot on my personal list for a number of reasons...
# 1. It serves as the appetizer for my very favorite holiday.
# 2. I absolutely love the Macy's Day Parade. Some of the balloons still in this annual event are as old as I am (and I remember them).
# 3. I love turkey. I don't like to make turkey as it has a way of pushing me toward the vegetarian lifestyle of which I'd starve to death. But I sure like to eat turkey.
# 5. Love, love, love the stuffing (or "dressing" as so many people say).
Drum roll please...
# 6 (or perhaps I should have made this # 1). The sight of a chocolate turkey beside everyone's plate. It's one that instantly transports me back to those days when I sat on two New York City phone books to reach my grandmother's table. Sometimes, when I think back to those days when I got to pass a bowl of stuffing to my grandmother or the Lenox gravy boat to my grandfather, I get a little choked up. I miss them. I miss the sound of their voices. I miss the way they cared about me. But what wonderful, wonderful memories they gave me on Thanksgiving and so many other special days throughout the year. So this Thanksgiving, like many in my adult years, will include chocolate turkeys. And while it will be my hand that puts them there, it will be my grandmother's that I will forever see...
Now tell me, what's your favorite part of Thanksgiving?
"those days when I sat on two New York City phone books to reach my grandmother's table."
ReplyDeleteThat is just too adorable.
And very, very true. My grandmother refused to see only my eyebrows at the table. So I got hoisted up.
ReplyDeleteI'm here to say, a NY City phone book gives you way more lift than any "booster seat" of today.
Lovely memories, Laura!
ReplyDeleteAfter doing all the holidays for both large extended families for many decades, I am now quite happy to go down to my sister's. She finally has a place of her own and wanted to take them over. I was delighted to give them up. Now, I happily make whatever I'm supposed to bring and head out on the highway. After several years, I still have no desire to take back the holidays.
Thanksgiving is the one holiday when all my chicks come home. I love having everyone around the table, even if it means we have to remove all the furniture from the living room and put all the tables there. Thanksgiving is a "pure" holiday--no gifts, nothing but family togetherness and being thankful for the ability to be with one another for a couple of days. My girls have each developed a favorite dish to contribute, so it also means cooking together, which I also love.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course, mashed potatoes! Mmmm.
Linda, sounds like a nice new tradition for you! :)
ReplyDeleteKaren, I love the way you described Thanksgiving as a "pure" holiday. Love that!!
I just like the spirit and emphasis for the day: taking time, MAKING time, to be grateful for whatever is on your personal list.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the phrase "reason for the season" applies more to Thanksgiving than to Christmas.
And, I love a nice walk, even a short one, after that long day of parades, big food/drinks/laughs, and football it is very nice to just do a little tour of the neighborhood, smell the wood fires people have lit in their fireplaces, see the sun setting or the moon and stars glowing, breath a little cool air and walk off a bit of that big meal. Happy Thanksgiving.
the family gathering in my aunt's home and catching up on everyone's lives. The after-dinner lay on the couch with a full tummy and smile watching the TV.
ReplyDeleteVicky, I could actually smell the wood fires when I was reading your comment. Made me want to go outside and experience all of that right now.
ReplyDeleteDru, oh yes, the after-dinner lay on the couch with a full tummy. Love that part!
I've never heard of chocolate thanksgiving turkeys. Must be an east coast thing. LOL Love my mom's mashed potatoes.
ReplyDelete