The days leading to Thanksgiving...

I can remember my mom making lists upon lists and checking them all three or four times before leaving the house to do the grocery encounter. It was more than just shopping for food. No, at this time of year, it was an adventure that was fueled by endless coupons for various stores scattered across Kenosha county. Kroger's had that good stuffing bread on sale with a coupon for a free gallon of milk and real butter. The Pig had potatoes and sweet potatoes on sale and their flour was the cheapest so for making pies that was the place to go. And Lakeview had 20 lb. turkeys for .19 cents a pound. We'd drive all over town and the end result was a trunk full of all the fixings for a grand Thanksgiving feast.

I remember my mom getting all the good dishes out of storage and washing them up, ready and waiting for the big day. The good glasses and good silverware also made an appearance. Once washed, this was all lined up on a side table.

I remember my mom washing the turkey, inside and out, and carefully removing the gizzards and neck bones that were hiding inside. She would take the old crank meat grinder out and, after lightly cooking them, grinds them all up to be added to the stuffing. She would chop onions and celery and garlic until the aroma took over the entire house. She'd mix that with the ground turkey innards and the good stuffing bread, now toasted and cubed, and pour in copious amounts of chicken stock and the water she cooked the innards in. She'd dig in up to her elbows and mix this all together. And then she'd set it aside.

I remember standing near the sink as she gave our turkey a gently bath. Running streams of hot water inside and out, rinsing out anything that just should be there. She placed the bird on a rack in a large roasting pan and then filled it's inside with the aromatic stuffing mixture. Next she'd cut a stick of real butter into chunks and poke each one up into the turkey between the skin and the meat. When done, the turkey would have pockets of yellow butter sticking out. She then would rub the whole thing down with salt, pepper and something called poultry seasoning. A little more stock was poured at the bottom of the plan and the whole thing was placed on a cookie sheet to make sure it was strong enough to hold this behemoth. And into the oven it would go. Gradually, throughout the day, the whole house smelled of warm turkey goodness. It was heavenly.

I remember my mom making green bean casserole, scalloped carrots, mashed potatoes and any number of other side dishes to go with the big bird. When I got older, she let me put together the relish tray. Cranberry sauce, 2 kinds, black and green olives, sweet and dill pickles all layed out on a decorative tray to be eaten with our meal. And when I was older still and allowed to help with the main meal she would say, "How's about we have a little Bloody Mary?" and I would be in charge of making the drinks which we would sip while we cooked and talked. And talked.

I remember talking to my mom while we were cooking. We'd talk about the meal, about our family, about people we both knew, about life, about our feelings, and about nothing at all.

These days, Thanksgiving is different. But it is no less precious. Because I know, from my memories and from today, that I have so much to be thankful for. And I will always remember that.

This Thanksgiving...

I know I have a lot to be thankful for in my life. I always have. I wouldn't consider myself wealthy by any means but I am blessed. I have an incredible family. This year it is even more present in my mind how important they are to me because, this year, I was not able to celebrate Thanksgiving with them. Now let me explain, this isn't the first time I have been without family at Thanksgiving. I spent one Thanksgiving in Sweden with Alex's family. Even though they don't celebrate this holiday they politely indulged me while I cooked a turkey with all the trimmings for them. My own family celebrated at home without me but even then I didn't feel this sense of missing out as I do this year.

Last weekend I came down with a cold. As I ran around getting what I would need to make one of the traditional turkeys I could feel this cold coming on. Sniffles, congestion, slight cough - it was coming. Over the next day or two it worsened. Luckily, I had taken this week off from work so I wasn't having to call in sick but if I hadn't there was no way I would have been able to go to work. That's a pet peeve of mine, by the way, people who come to work coughing and hacking who clearly should have stayed home. Anyway, on Wednesday, I cooked a 22 lb. turkey and carved it  up and got it ready to go on Thursday morning. When I went to bed Wednesday night I was still somewhat optimistic that I would be going to my sister's house to celebrate with my family. But, all night on Wednesday, I was forced awake by violent coughing fits which made me have to get up and out of bed to get them under control. By morning, it was clear, I wasn't going anywhere but CVS to get some more cough medication. I called my other sister and she took the turkey and I stayed home with a promise that she would drop off some left overs when she returned. I might have gone and toughed it out but my sister Terry is on medication for her cancer that lowers her immune system. She can't be around anyone with even the slightest cough and I surely don't want to be the one to make her sick!

I've been missing them all day. I know it's silly. I mean it's not like I'm never going to see them again and I also know that these feelings are fueled by my feeling really crappy and sorry for myself. But my family is fun and I know I missing out on some great laughs. And my nieces were bringing their families from Illinois with the little kids. I miss them. And Jenna who is now 21 is home from Marquette University. I miss her! And my nephew was bringing his kids and we hardly ever see them! I miss them too. And my brother in law Ron was coming today and he rarely comes to large family gatherings. I miss him too. And my oldest sister was making oyster dressing at my request and now I'm not there to enjoy it! I'm the only one left in the family that likes it! I want it and I miss it! I miss them all today. Yes, I'm feeling sorry for myself and yes, I will see them all again. But these are the people I am most grateful for in my life. All of them. My siblings - Verda, Butch, Kathy, Terry, and Patsy. All of their families and their kids families. Together we are a fun, wild, crazy, loud, opinionated bunch. And I know how blessed I am to be a part of that!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!