Since 1969 I've cooked a lot of holiday dinners. I'm not cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year. We aren't going to my sister-in-law's house either. We're going to Mike and Betsy's house. Somehow I just know that I probably will not be cooking another big holiday dinner for 15+ people. The torch is getting past on to the younger generation. I'm not sure how I feel about this. So I've been remembering "filmclips" of past Holiday gatherings.
Margaret and Bill coming in from Midland and cooking with me. Cooking while we sipped wine and talked.
Sending someone to the grocery store for something I forgot.
Making cornbread and biscuits for the dressing and mixing it in a gumbo pot because it was the only thing big enough to hold enough dressing.
Making gravy by the gallon....the Mercer clan loves gravy on their turkey, dressing and sometimes I think they just eat it like soup.
Bill stirring up his famous Chocolate Marble Pound Cake.
Dumping the dough and starting over to make cloverleaf rolls because I was talking when I should have been paying attention.
The first year we added creamed onions to the menu....now they are standard.
Setting the tables with china and crystal and flowers.
Everyone arriving with covered dishes and desserts. The kids in and out the doors. The volume level going up and up as we all talked.
Sitting at the table loaded with way too much food and being so thankful for all our blessings.
Total chaos in the kitchen when we were washing dishes after the dinner. Somehow Jim ended up the dishwasher every year.
A table full of desserts....French silk chocolate pie, pecan pies, apple pies, 3-layer chocolate cake, pumpkin pie, fudge and of course a mince pie while Ned's Dad was alive.
Phone calls to members of the family who couldn't join us.....phone passed from one person to the next to say hello and we miss you.
Finally finishing and sitting down to hold a baby, Keith, Jack, or whoever the latest baby was. How sweet it was to just rock and hold them while the slept limply against your chest.
Dishing up leftovers for everyone to take home.
Falling into bed totally exhausted.
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3 comments:
No signs of the holiday you so elegantly describe here in Mexico. The stores are getting Christmas stuff out - At the Chedraui there is a Christmas tree lot in the parking lot - trees selling for 30 -45 dollars (S) - We wonder who can afford to buy those things? Being vegetarians Thanksgiving has not been a 'look forward to the food day' (albeit there are some fine side dishes to turkey & ham ;-) Also never overjoyed about the massacre of the Indian Nations that keeps coming to mind on this holiday - but your perspective with family is good - thanks for the memories ;-)
Calypso Juan
Just remember you can't "drive" Thanksgiving dinners from the back seat....ya' know? Pitchertaker
Thanksgiving just a regular day here for us also. Canadian Thanksgiving is in October. Christmas trees also out in force on this side of Mexico for about the same prices. I also wonder who can afford to pay that amount; but then I am used to going and cutting one down from the roadside at home in Canada for nothing. This is legal by the way in our county as when growing in the ditch they are either killed by the road salt or the road maintenance crews anyway.
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