turkey anyone?
please click on photo to see turkey up close. photo courtesy of ian.
thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. the only requirement for the day is to say a prayer of thanks and eat a meal, if we are lucky. my son's high school recently had a food drive. with our current economy, many food pantries are not getting the donations they need. if every student brought in just one nonperishable food item, the school would be able to donate 1700 cans of food. my son asked that we donate two. I feel very fortunate that it was as simple as opening up our cupboard and having him choose whatever he wanted to donate. I heard the food drive went really well. what are your plans for thanksgiving?
Comments
What are the odds that this couple is still married?
Personally, I want to be alone on Thanksgiving. I'll say my prayer of thanks, and eat some turkey, though not a huge meal. I buried my husband the day before Thanksgiving, and just have not been able to get into a festive mood for it since, even though it was many years ago. I think a lot of people would be very surprised and reluctant to believe it, but there are many people who would rather be alone on certain holidays, and it really isn't being kind to insist that they be with others.
I'm not depressed or morbid about it. I usually go out for a nature walk, weather permitting. I just want to be alone that day.
When we lived on LI,for a few years we went to an excellent buffet at the Australian Gardens. A lot of our neighbors went, so it had a very festive and almost family environment.
When we moved here, we have spent a few Thanksgivings by ourselves - TV dinner - sometimes a special dinner and when the cats were alive, we would cook a turkey. It seemed to please them to sit by the oven and wait.
A friend here started an Open House for the Holidays. We didn't expect a lot of people - it was bring a dish - however, it ended up about 35 people for dinner and throughout the day about 50. Christmas had a larger turnout.
I was amazed and learned a lesson - that some families do not celebrate together, some people "assume" that friends have somewhere to go - friends "assume" they would be intrusive - yet, the amazing part is this - it enriches the holiday and holds one of the true element of Thanksgiving.
Last year we went to the SIL, who decided to prepare the entire meal in advance. Now, I understand... work, time etc. but the entire meal was leftovers some two days old. Sigh - perhaps, it is me and am wrong but I like to see the big turkey - the surrounding dishes - the anticipation.
Haven't made plans yet this year. Hoping to find a good buffet - what is Thanksgiving without second helpings?
Paz ;-)
I watch the parade on TV (have never been to it in person), and ALWAYS look forward to seeing Santa at the end of the parade!
I used to volunteer in the kitchen at God's Love, We Deliver, an organization that provides free food to people who are sick and home bound. I did that for 5 years, chopping hundreds and hundreds of pounds of potatoes, carrots, onions, etc. But now, I only help them raise money through the walkathon, which is next weekend. :-)
It's also great photo-op for me as well.
Thanksgiving used to be Family Day...after I divorced, it used to be my and my daughter's day to make fancy breakfast, watch parades and movies, and have a simple turkey dinner. She doesn't like all the trimmings, and I'm not into cooking just for me these days, so it was a simple meal - OH, and I can't forget the Gingerbread Chocolate Chunk Cookies a la Martha - to DIE for.
But this year she's going with her father and his new family to Florida. I will have their dogs (and mine), but basically I'll be alone. It's okay. I'll force myself to NOT work that day, and really just take a relaxing day off. And I'll be thankful for a real day off :-)