Thanksgiving.....

This morning as I was removing my wedding and engagement rings to prepare for Thanksgiving, I realized I am such a cynic - I can truly find the bad in any situation, motive or idea. I can't imagine anyone's jaw hit the table upon reading that confession....so I am going to shock you by reliving happy Thanksgiving memories.

Growing up, we never went anywhere for the Thanksgiving holiday. All of my dad's family lived in town - but my dad being the youngest of 8 kids with a 20 year difference from the oldest sibling - our cousins were all about 10-15 years older than us, so relatives celebrated with their extended families - and we stayed home. That was fine with me - and I think rooted my tradition of staying home for all major holidays. My mom cooked a turkey and all the fixins. We lived in Ohio - so good hearty food - and if Mom got really fancy - we might have marshmallows on the sweet potatoes! We ate and my dad and brothers watched football. That that is about all I can remember for the first 18 years of my life. Still my favorite tradition - staying home and eating!


My first married Thanksgiving was spent on the beach at Topsail Island, North Carolina. Hubby's company commander invited us to their home for dinner. Egads! A captain, his wife and two kids! I was tasked with an appetizer. I can't remember what I took - but I do remember the dish I presented it in. A crystal heart shaped platter we received as a wedding gift. What it had to do with Thanksgiving - I'm not sure - but I was proud to use it! We were dining with another couple - from California. Talk about intimidating.....Wendy was tasked with sweet potatoes. She whispered to me she used her mom's Citrus Yam recipe. I was scared. What the heck do oranges have to do with yams - or sweet potatoes where I come from! I was pleasantly surprised. A light orange zest really does bring out the flavor in an orange vegetable! Who knew? The next day I prepared my first Thanksgiving dinner for my groom and me. With the help of a shower gift cookbook - it was a wonderful meal. His birthday was in two days so we had birthday cake for dessert. Then we took a walk on the beach. Perfect!

Fast forward five years to Okinawa, Japan. We had literally just moved to this tiny island in the Pacific. By just moved - I mean we arrived Monday afternoon of Thanksgiving week. Thanksgiving was the last thing on my mind as we deboarded the plane with a 6 month old and every possible thing we could hand carry 10,000 miles! This was the November I realized the Marine Corps is truly one family. Our sponsor on the island invited us to a potluck Thanksgiving dinner at a place called the Eagles Nest. I don't know what I took, if anything - and I'm pretty sure I just showed up jet lagged beyond belief not knowing a soul. These wonderful people took us in and gave us a reason to be Thankful. Alone on an island without a family in sight we became each other's family. As I type this - I am thinking of the people there we are still in contact with - some are even neighbors now here in Northern Virginia.

The next year in Okinawa I remember buying celery for $8 at the commisary. Ouch! But, I digress!


Several years later, for reasons still not clear - we drove back to Ohio from Cherry Point, North Carolina. We had never done this before - and we have not done it since! I seem to remember trying eat carb free at Thanksgiving. Hmm. Potatos. Bread. Pumpkin pie. Yeah. Didn't go over so well! We ate everywhere we went. Actually, the reason we went back to Ohio is that hubby had Stealer tickets for that weekend. Someone had the brilliant idea that he could go to Pittsburgh with my brother and then just fly back to NC and I could pick him up in Raleigh on Monday. I must have been in a no-carb induced coma - because I agreed to this. The kids and I drove back to NC by ourselves. A regular trip takes about 8 hours. This took 12 and we were only in Wythville, VA. So, making the command decision - we stayed in Raleigh for the night and picked up hubs at the airport as scheduled the next day. We enjoyed free warm cookies at 10 p.m. Carbs for everyone!


My favorite part about this trip happened in West Virginia. Son #2 was probably 7 or 8 at the time. We stopped to get gas and he came out of the rest room just absolutely disgusted. I asked what was wrong. He reported someone had written "my balls are humongous" on the bathroom wall. BUT - they had spelled humongous wrong. Lesson learned and we still live by this rule...if you are going to deface property - the least you can do is spell it correctly.


One year we ate at the chow hall with the Marines. Boy, talk about a throw down! Not only did they have turkey and dressing - but steak and lobster, too! By a happy coincidence - my cousin and her family lived at the same base - and my fondest memory is her husband eating at least 4 different kinds of pie. Pie. And you know how I feel about a pie!

This year my inlaws are visiting. Our first born is home from college. It's chilly outside. No citrus yams - but I am making a pecan cinnamon yam. Yum! I don't have much use for my crystal heart shaped dish except at Valentine's Day - but I am using my new turkey platter I won at Bunko. But one thing remains the same - the same wonderful cookbooks I received at a wedding shower all those years ago. Pan Gravy on page 62 is stained with flour, oil and other foods - but I rely on it every year. "More gravy, please," is music to my ears!"

As I put my wedding and engagement ring back on after doing the dishes, I take a few minutes to remember a cold Thanksgiving weekend 24 years ago. It was the year I said "yes" to all of this.