Thanksgiving
Wednesday, November 28, 2001
Well. Thanksgiving. Wow. What can I say? It was fantastic. So much happened. So little happened. But it was all very touching and good. And happy. And nice.
I could recount the events here. But they couldn't reflect the joy of the past days off. It was a mixture of many things with a common theme of family. We cooked together over sheets of phyllo dough and fresh brussel sprouts. We entertained ourselves with visions of Harry Potter and Hedwig, his owl. We played games which involved learning that my mother doesn't ever want to read my diary -- which I found very ironic. You know. Considering...
We cooked. A lot. At least until Friday when my stepdad proceeded to rip out my mother's entire kitchen. Don't worry, she's getting a new one. But on Thursday, it was all about the food. And considering this is a special year, what with me being a vegetarian and all, the cooking was key. Yes, special dressing with orange juice & Reisling instead of broth. Yes, the mushroom strudel from Cooking Light as my entree. And, no, I didn't miss the gravy nor a piece of either of the two (yes TWO!) turkeys that my mother prepared. We didn't even have a large crowd. My mother was just being the planner that she is and since they were frying a turkey for the first time, she want a backup. A backup turkey. Heh. That really makes me laugh.
So, that was our Thursday. I made my special brussel sprouts fixed in garlic butter. We had a traditional corn pudding from my mother's family and a bunch of the usuals: sweet potatoes, green bean casserole (yuck!), fresh cranberry relish, mashed potatoes which were yummy by themselves and didn't need no stinkin' gravy thank-you-very-much. And there was even dessert (because you can't have Thanksgiving without dessert). Traditionals such as pumpkin & pecan pie along with a Pear Clafoutis which a tried for the first time and my stepsister's yummy gluten-free Pumpkin Roll.
Oh, and there was wine.
Lots of wine.
I was a little giddy by the time dinner came around. We're not one of those afternoon-dinner families. We like all day to cook. Or all day to get drunk. I'm kidding. But some Bloody Marys did show up sometime after noon.
It was a nice small group: my mother & stepdad, my nine-year-old sister, my sister-in-law to be, my stepsister Danielle and her husband and James and I. Unfortunately, my brother had to work so he couldn't make dinner. My other stepsiblings were at other family celebrations.
And Amy, my brother's fiance, is truly a gem. Thanksgiving with her is fun. Truly. She's just got this air about her and she's completely and totally crazy. At some point during the day my mother mentioned that Emily (the nine-year-old) wanted to cut her hair from a longer cut to a bob (which is about 6 inches of hair in length). Amy could do it. That's what she said. And before I knew what was happening, and less than an hour before dinner, no less, Amy is cutting Emily's hair! I was freaking out! I've had so many hair trauma's throughout my life I can't imagine letting someone unlicensed and non-Aveda related even touching my hair. Let alone.. Family. Let alone... on Thanksgiving. Let alone... 6 inches of hair.
It was all very traumatic.
For me.
My sister was fine. She loved the cut. She kept swishing the style to and fro discovering the new bounciness that came from shorter locks. What a girl.
After dinner and dessert, mom and James cleaned while Amy, Emily and I hid. Besides, there wasn't enough room in the kitchen for us anyway. Really, there wasn't.
And when all was put away in its proper place and every Tupperware container in site was in use, we played a game. Until 2am. My brother even arrived around midnight and got to enjoy the familiness which was all very sickening and sweet.
At dinner, I made us go around the table and name 5 things we were each thankful for. Now I know what will be at the top of my list next year. It really was a supreme holiday.
The rest of the trip was productive and enjoyable as well. We got a big start on our holiday shopping including a Diva Starz doll for my sis which is like this weird combination of Britney Spears, Barbie and Furbie. I know. She's going to get all her bad body image stuff from me.
In Madison, we saw music. We ate Indian food. We drank some more. Harry Potter showed up sometime during the weekend. He was cool (although Ron Weasley really stole my heart). And when we returned to the Cities on Sunday night, we got a tree.
A Christmas tree.
Man, I love having a tree. And it's always tradition to get it the weekend after Thanksgiving. You HAVE TO! I don't care what all you nay-sayer "it's going to lose all its needles" worry-warts think.
Last year we didn't even have a tree at all because of the impending move -- so it's been two years since my last and I was more than happy to say hello to all my little ornaments. Hi, little Etch-a-Sketch! Hi, Bobofett! Hi, Piglet! Hi, crazy handmade thing that came with James with I married him! Hi, my only Christopher Radko (hint! hint!).
So. Now my flat smells like Balsam. My tummy is full. And winter has arrived in Minnesota with inches upon inches of snow. And, quite frankly, Scrooge can kiss my ass. I'm glad the holidays are here.
+ + + +
< Previous :: Next |
