I realize that Thanksgiving is technically a fall holiday, but now that darkness is setting in at 5 o’clock and temperatures are plunging at night, it already feels like winter. Seeing store shelves stocked with mashed potato and stuffing ingredients and watching the kids work on turkey-themed crafts reminds me of my own childhood Thanksgivings.
Nowadays, kids have the entire week off, but when I was a kid, only Thursday and Friday were non-school days. On Thanksgiving morning, my sister and I would be wound up and running around, while my dad enjoyed a free day to sit in the recliner and read the newspaper in his stockinged feet. Eventually my grandmother and bachelor uncle would arrive and the festivities would officially begin.
Meanwhile, my poor mom would be hard at work in the kitchen. As a kid, I never paid much attention, but as an adult, I realize now that my mom was essentially in charge of everything, from the planning and shopping to the cooking and even carving the bird. My sister and I would be assigned ridiculously easy tasks like setting the table and finding out what all the grown-ups wanted to drink, but I rarely set foot in the kitchen. That was my mom’s domain, and she didn’t want anyone trespassing.
Nowadays, my sister and I rotate who hosts Thanksgiving, while my mom has taken on the role of a guest. The meals are a little different, but the feeling of kinship are the same. It’s a day to feast, tell stories, and laugh, regardless of who is doing the cooking.
Wishing you all a wonderful and memorable Thanksgiving!
I'm glad Thanksgiving is a good holiday for you. My childhood memories are pretty good ones, too, but when I was on the job it was known for the domestic disputes that occurred later in the evenings. If I happened to be off, I'd work the security gig at Walmart. The overtime pay was all I was thankful for. ;-)
Posted by: Michael A. Black | November 23, 2017 at 11:28 AM