Thanksgiving 2007: The Macy's parade is on. Anthony, our oldest son, who lives in down the street, walks in just as I'm filling the baster to baste the turkey, so as I turn to say hi, the rubber part that you squeeze to release the scooped up juices separates and the whole thing ends up on the floor, yuck. So Anthony laughs and says, "Mom being around you, is like being in a reality show." I laughed and said, you know, Anthony, in my day, the expression would have been a situation comedy. So, I told him to sit down and watch the parade with me.
Watching the Macy's parade gives a sense of continuity for me. Thanksgiving 1957 was the first Thanksgiving of my life here in America. My mother being so religious thought it was wonderful that a whole day was set aside for thanking God. I always enjoy the flashbacks to my children's preschool days and the "Thanksgiving Chapel" that would be a wonderful pageant that the school would hold, Chris, our youngest, learned a lengthy poem in Pre Kindergarten. I still have a box of Thanksgiving art including pieces of paper which would magically make a pine cone into a turkey and the headbands worn by little Indians ages ago, and collars when they were Pilgrims instead.
Another little vignette: Two years ago, Anthony and Elizabeth announced in July that they would host Thanksgiving in their house for both sides of the family and Priscilla's family, one of my best friends. So, about two weeks before Anthony started asking me to e-mail them recipes and directions for cooking a turkey. I was so happy that my son would share the work. Then a few days before Thanksgiving, I called to check if there was anything I could do to help and he said, no we are all set, we roasted a practice turkey to figure out the timing, etc. I loved it. I never heard of anyone doing a practice turkey. I thought back to Anthony's first Thanksgiving, he was born in September and that year we went to our friends, The Morgens's house. I took a picture of Anthony at the table in his baby holder and the turkey was about the same size as he.
In my years of elementary school teaching, we'd do a Pilgrims and Indians feast. I always would do it outside in the playground picnic tables and would make sure there was cobs of popcorn. Usually the room mothers would be surprised to know that Popcorn was at the first Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving brings out the best in many of us, the donations to food banks, donating for needy families, sharing with others. It's wonderful! This week, I was in a very well run First grade. The plans were for the class to finish reading "Molly's Pilgrim" about a Russian Jewish girl whose family came to America for primarily the same reasons as the original pilgrims. Then after lunch, I read another Thanksgiving story to them and we sang songs. I sang "Over the River, " the short version and they didn't know it. They taught me a little song that they'd learned in Music class . I was born for days like this. Truly, my cup runneth over. Sometimes I can't believe my good fortune in all areas of my life, especially my family.
We have been rotating Thanksgiving with our friends for the last ten years or so. We've gone to different houses or we've hosted it. I love to think back to different years, and the different stages. I will say a little toast, a short blessing at the table remembering my mother's prayers and blessings before eating. She would close with the words, let's remember the loved ones far away and those who are gone to eternity. So, I close with the words, let's remember the loved ones, far, near and no longer with us.
Happy Thanksgiving!
