Well, not really those leftovers.... Thoughts that still remain in my head about Thanksgiving - that kind of leftovers.
I always loved Thanksgiving! It was especially awesome when I was a kid because my mother did all of the cooking - and she was an excellent cook. When I would drag out of bed, she would have the meal underway - and the house smelled wonderful. She would watch the Macy's Thanksgiving parade as she filled the turkey with her delicious cornbread stuffing - one of my absolute favorite things on that day! We would have sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie with whipped topping - a wonderful meal. And when I got older, I got to bring leftovers home with me!
After my husband and I got married, we were treated to two Thanksgiving dinners. We would have lunch at my mother's house. Then at dinnertime, we would drive about 10 minutes away to eat again at my mother-in-law's house. I fell in love with my mother-in-law's sweet potato casserole, which has been a part of my Thanksgiving Day ever since.
We did stay home for our second Thanksgiving after we got married. That was because we had a newborn baby. Our son was due on Thanksgiving Eve, but came eight days early via C-section. I was still healing and getting used to being a new mother, so my husband stepped up and smoked a turkey for us. And my baby boy liked waking up and staying up from about 1:30 to 5:30 a.m., so I was up with him, watching a lot of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" in the middle of the night.
My mother-in-law passed away...my mother went into a nursing home...my mother passed away.... Life changes...holidays change.
We started having Thanksgiving dinner at home. My husband and I would get up early and inject the turkey and get it in the oven. I am not sure why, but it somehow organically became a tradition that I would name the turkey each year. For no apparent reason, the turkey is always male, and the name is one that just pops into my head. Naming the bird has never interfered with anyone being able to eat it. Dessert eventually became pecan pies - I got the recipe from a friend, and they are foolproof!
For a couple of years, my brother-in-law, his daughters, and his then-wife would come to our house for Turkey Day dinner. They were always late because they would realize they forgot the dish they were bringing and would head home to get it. I was great to have more family members to enjoy the day with. All of the cooking was a lot of work, but it was worth it when everyone was gathered here. After they were divorced, my brother-in-law and one of his daughters joined us for dinner. We live about an hour away from them, so I am sure it's easier for him to go to his sister's house just a few minutes away.
My son's girlfriend and then my daughter's boyfriend became a part of the day. The more the merrier in my book. It's one of the few days in the year that we actually enjoy having guests over. The menu would vary slightly. The kids - especially my daughter - love mac and cheese. My mother always had that for them with any meal. So I would try various recipes, not wanting to do the box version. My husband likes green bean casserole, but he was the only one, so it became just green beans. I never stuffed my turkey, but would make a cornbread sausage dressing. We always had the sweet potato casserole, and hot buttered rolls. My son's ex-girlfriend liked pumpkin pie, so I would bake one of those along with the pecan pie, and she and I would eat the pumpkin pie, And we started having dirty rice, peas - only the tiny ones for my husband! - and gravy. It's no wonder that my back was always killing my by that night!
Three Thanksgivings ago, things started changing drastically. As many of you know, that was the day my son decided to marry his girlfriend in a civil ceremony in Canada. And I found out in a roundabout way through my daughter and social media. Hurt and confused doesn't begin to describe it. The next Thanksgiving, Tyler and his wife were living in Canada, so once again, it was my husband, my daughter, her boyfriend, and me. And again, I missed having both of my kids at home.
This year, my daughter added a second job - a seasonal one at Target - so she had to work Thanksgiving night and at both jobs on Black Friday. Since she lives an hour and a half away, she and her boyfriend weren't able to come home. So for the third year in a row, I was missing a kid. I was glad to have my son back home, but didn't want to do a ton of cooking for three people. We had turkey - my husband and I each got a free one when we got our flu shots! - plus green beans, baby peas, brown rice, gravy, sweet potato casserole, hot rolls, and store bought pecan pie. I called it "Thanksgiving Light." We had plenty to eat. We had plenty of leftovers for turkey sandwiches and gumbo. But I didn't have the backache from slaving over the stove all day.
Maybe because I was an only child, I have always dreamed of being a part of a big Thanksgiving dinner. I love seeing all the posts on Facebook with various family members each making various dishes and then coming together to enjoy the feast. I love the idea of the adults chatting and laughing while the kids run around and play. I love the thought of everyone ooing and ahhing over the different foods and everyone eating until they are stuffed - but they are all ready for dessert when it's served. It all seems so special. Maybe one day....
Don't get me wrong. I am so thankful for my husband, my kids, my home, and having food on the table. I do not take any of that for granted. I thank God for my husband and kids every day. Yes, I am blessed and give thanks!
Coming up later this year: Our Belated Christmas!
