Thanksgiving, which falls on November 28 this year, has always been one of my favorite holidays. It is a day when families gather together, food is bountiful and, of course, we get to watch some good football and cheer for the Detroit Lions!
What are your Thanksgiving traditions? I love to cook, so my family usually gathers at my house. There is always an extra chair available for any last-minute guests. When my grandkids were little, they would get up early to help me stuff the turkey and make the pies. I usually cook a traditional turkey dinner with all the fixings: mashed potatoes & gravy, my famous sage & sausage stuffing, cranberry sauce (not from the can) and homemade rolls. There is usually a tray of fresh fruits and veggies and a crab dip appetizer – it isn’t a complete meal at my house without some sort of seafood. My daughter always brings the green bean casserole and our dessert always includes pumpkin pie, pecan pie and cheesecake.
“We should just be thankful for being together. I think that is what they mean by Thanksgiving, Charlie Brown.”
– Marcie, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
At my table, there is always enough food to feed an army; but of course, that is one of the best things about Thanksgiving dinner – the leftovers! Leftover turkey is quickly turned into pot pies and turkey noodle or turkey & rice soup. My personal favorite is a simple, cold turkey sandwich made with leftover dinner rolls and slathered with mayo. I’m also known to eat a slice of pumpkin pie (with whipped cream, of course) for breakfast on the morning after.
For me, Thanksgiving is a day to express gratitude for all of the good things in our lives. And I have a lot to be grateful for – my family is healthy and happy. We look forward to visits from family members and friends we haven’t seen in a while. I’m especially excited about my oldest grandson coming home from college. This is his last year at Michigan Tech and who knows where his journey will take him after that?
The holiday can also bring a little sadness. There is always a chair left empty by someone we may have lost or those unable to make it home. My family will be missing my grandson Mack, who is serving our country as a U.S. Marine. We have something to look forward to, however; he and his wife, Rose, will be coming home for Christmas!
Thanksgiving is also about friends. In “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”, Charlie celebrates with two Thanksgiving meals. He prepares a feast for his friends consisting of toast (since he can’t cook), pan-fried popcorn, pretzel sticks, jelly beans and ice cream sundaes. Linus leads the group in prayer, detailing the First Thanksgiving. After some minor clashes and hurt feelings, the friends were all invited to Charlie Brown’s grandmother’s house for a second, more traditional meal. I think Charlie’s friend Marcie said it best: “We should just be thankful for being together.”
Happy Thanksgiving to all … and Go, Lions!
