Usually by the time I get ready to write this in time for the deadline, I have had some significant event happen to me or some inspiration. Well, nothing's happening this week folks. Not that I mean my life is that uneventful, just nothing I want to share with the whole campus. Since this is the last issue before break, let's do some refleting on teh wonderful holiday that is Thanksgiving.
For as long as I can remember, Thanksgiving has been one of my absolute favorite holidays. I just love Fall overall, shades of brown and yellow, and crunching leaves, and Thanksgiving is just an added bonus of the season. When Fall brusquely arrives, wool sweaters get rescued from drawers, trunks, closets, maybe even plastic bags, people's cheeks get a wind blush that's more attractive than any cosmetic, and I always feel like I've suddenly woken up from a warm sleepiness and am renewed by the brisk air.
Fallen leaves possess an incredible power over people, especially children. Have you ever seen a kid walking down the sidewalk look down at the leaves and keep walking? No, of course you haven't because it doesn't happen. The leaves call to them, and even to a lot of adults, begging them to stomp on through and discover the beautiful Fall music they can make. Some kids don't even mind raking the leaves, solely so they can play in them afterwards.
After we've gotten a little used to living in our new Fall atmosphere, Thanksgiving is upon us, our Fall celebration. All Thanksgiving decorations sold in stores are clad with browns, oranges, reds and yellows, and are reassuring in a way. At my grandmother's old house where we always had Thanksgiving day, the first things that get put out are t bowls of shelled nuts and fruit. Is this a widely known practice, or is it just my family? Either way, it has become the first part of the Thanksgiving day dance. After you sit in the living room watching parades and football games chowing on nuts and fruit for a while, the dinner anticipation starts to build. Being a female in my family always meant helping set the table, or tables if a "kid's table" was needed, and generally hanging out in the kitchen savoring the cooling smells.
Finally the time has come. After pouring what has to be my third glass of eggnog, I sit down and pile my plate high with mashed potatoes drowning in gravy, corn drenched with butter, two and a half little mounds of Grandma's stuffing (I've found that to be my perfect serving), and big slices of white turkey breast, which also gets its chance to swim in gravy. Although I am a picky eater, I have never left the Thanksgiving table hungry. Let the games begin!
For some reason that I've never quite figured out, lasagna has always been round two of our family dinner. But what I look forward to the most is the two servings of pumpkin pie, (store bought yes, but definitely good), completely covered with cool whip. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
On that delicious note I will leave you. Thanksgiving greetings and blessings to all of you and your families, friends, slight acquaintances, etc., and Happy Fall!
I'm happy to report that I've progressed to homemade pumpkin pies in the last several years (and mine are quite delicious, if I do say so myself!), but Thanksgiving remains my favorite holiday of the year. My adoration of Autumn must have something to do with my New England upbringing- nobody does Fall like them!
Out of season, but craving eggnog and pumpkin pie,
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