THANKSGIVING

To me this traditional November holiday is embodied by family, turkey and football. In the 1950’s I remember my mother started roasting the bird early in the morning. I think in those days it was recommended to cook the daylights out of all meat. Food preparation began just after sunrise. By mid-morning our home had the delectable smell of turkey, giblets and pumpkin pies wafting in the air. I could barely stand the wait. Soon the start of the annual Packer/Lion football game grabbed my attention. It was on the radio and then on TV beginning around age 10 or 11. When listening on the radio I’d toss a football with my brothers. Or, we’d get a short pickup game going in the alley. (Telephone pole to telephone pole field.)

We’d have our grandfathers, two uncles/aunts and three cousins for a mid-afternoon dinner. (Both my grandmothers had died by the time I was two years old.) The food was bountiful and great tasting. Dry meat never bothered me; I preferred dark meat. Plus, there were boat loads of gravy to drench the dressing, mashed potatoes and turkey if needed. Later there was pumpkin pie. My memory is not all that great but I will hazard a guess that other food items made it to the table. Like salad, cranberry sauce, hot rolls, green beans, yams or glazed carrots. (For you of course the rule is to eat your vegetables and try everything!)

Later in life I did get around to sampling different food offerings. They are quite good in their own right but in the end nothing beats turkey, stuffing, potatoes and gravy. My worse Thanksgivings also happened later in life. Nothing to do with the food or football. (Pretty hard not to still suffer from indigestion from that dreaded 1962 game.) A bad Thanksgiving was always the absence of family. In my first year of law school. I did not know anyone well enough to snare an invite to dinner. I remember going out to eat a meal at a Formica table. In subsequent years I went to friends’ homes for Thanksgiving and in Vietnam there was dinner with pals. But, even with companionship I missed family. Thereafter, for years, I cooked the turkey, dressing, gravy and mashed potatoes and loved every minute of the anticipation of seeing family.

So, for those already on board as grandchildren, tomorrow will be a gathering of family with food and or favorite activities as surround sound. There is lots to be thankful for now and for each of you I wish a life long pursuit of happiness. Learn to cook a turkey dinner. Clean as you go. It’s more of a logistics operation than fine dining. A higher edge on a pan roasts the turkey faster. Take time with the gravy. Use an old fashioned hand masher. Nod approvingly at yams, salads and green beans if they make an appearance at your otherwise perfect Thanksgiving dinner.