It is weird, but for as much as I enjoy turkey dinner, I only partake maybe twice a year. I think subconsciously I feel if I have it more often I won't appreciate it when the special day in November arrives. Every family has their own traditions and recipes that have been handed down and I have to say as much as I love, and have eaten, an entire box of Stove Top - I would walk a million miles for my mom's stuffing. Yes, she is one of those people who cook it inside the bird and I know some may find that gross, but I try not to think about the logistics.
I like the stuffing that sits on the outside of the turkey the best. The part that gets a little browner than the rest and has a little crunch to it. To this day, my brother and I hover over the turkey, hot and steaming - freshly snatched from the oven, waiting for my dad to cut up the meat. Dad will put the stuffing in a bowl and, with mouths watering, two grown adults vie for that first chunk. We inspect the pieces looking for the crunchiest, the yummiest piece in all of stuffing town. Then we argue about who got the best piece. Ahh, Thanksgiving.
I have come to really appreciate the holiday because I have spent time away from home. When my husband and I were living in Virginia, we tried to plan our vacation days around holidays so we could come back to PA. But, for our first Thanksgiving away, that was not possible. We had not earned enough time off at our jobs to make that happen. I was beside myself because I was homesick and those damn Hallmark commercials were tearing me up. That year my parents brought Thanksgiving to us. They drove eight hours through a dangerous wintry mix stocked up with everything, including the turkey, to make a fine meal. It was a special holiday and one that we will never forget.
Another Thanksgiving we will not forget is the one when I announced I was pregnant. Before we dug into the meal, we went around the table saying what we were thankful for. During my turn, I happened to mention I was thankful that in eight months I was going to be a mom. My announcement postponed the eating portion of the holiday as hugs and tears where in order. The baby, my first born, was the first of my parents' five grandchildren.
We have been living back home for 13 years now. It is nice to look forward to the holiday and know there isn't a long drive involved. It is nice to know that my parents still host the dinner and I can help out making various sides or desserts and yes, there will be the beloved Rhodes Rolls on the table. When I was younger, my cousin and I used to sit around, after everyone had eaten, and enjoy the leftover buffet of rolls. We would just enjoy each others' company and talk over a plate of buttery fluffiness. My oldest son carries on that tradition today with or without company.
The holiday has changed over the years and the guest list is different. Cousins grow up and have their own families, in-laws are involved and some loved ones are throwing rolls across the dining room table in Heaven (a little shout out to my Uncle Harold).
My favorite part of Thanksgiving now is dessert and not due to the fact that my mom is the Bubba Gump of pumpkin. (She makes pumpkin cake, pumpkin roll, pumpkin cookies and pumpkin pie.) It is because that is when the original Bish 5 is all together, in addition to spouses and kids. My sister and her family join us, coming from their earlier meal, and we all enjoy the sweet bounty of unlimited treats. And we then argue about whether or not we should be listening to Christmas music.
Thanksgiving does get downplayed by the terribly commercialized holiday it preceeds, but the simplicity of turkey day is something to savor, especially the little things that are the ingredients for a recipe of treasured memories.
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| Dad mashing his famous mashed potatoes! |
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