Thanksgiving was one of those holidays that my parents were allowed to have at home. Every other holiday we traveled to the grandparents or the great aunt & uncles. I have faint memories of a few of them, but nothing extraordinary. My mother liked to entertain, but was not thrilled with cooking. I remember the first turkey I cooked for Thanksgiving. I made a 20 lb bird in an apartment sized oven. I roasted the hair off of my arms and face trying to light the ancient gas oven while I was pregnant. 7.5 months pregnant. I was serving 8 of us, in a tiny upper flat, with seating going out into the back stair landing. The best part…I put the bird in upside down. It was not the prettiest, but it was the most moist turkey breast I have ever had. Then came the years after divorce. I was so broke, I let the kids go to their dad’s for the holiday (to save up for Christmas). It was my “day off”, and most of the time, I spent it alone, in the tub, in tears. One year, a friend and I made turkey tv dinners and roasted acorn squash. Then there was the year I came out. Kids were still with dad, and new girlfriend and I made our own Thanksgiving. Made a small bird, and mushroom pate (that is all I really remember other than the removal of a sprout on the garlic clove that must have looked particularly phallic. We took great pleasure in whacking it off with the chef’s knife). Since those days, I have taken back Thanksgiving occasionally, as the kids got older and wanted to stay home. And then gave it up again as my in-laws have that as their “big family holiday”. I have taken it back now because my M-I-L is no longer capable of preparing the meal (we have made it here, packed it up and served it there for a couple of years). This year was supposed to be mine to do here for the family, but plans change. So. I will make the meal here anyway. We will have a couple of friends and the eldest child and his family. The basic turkey dinner is my favorite. The turkey is already in the fridge thawing. There will be mashed potatoes and gravy, there will be dressing (basic sage and onion with celery). I will make a corn casserole, scalloped sweet potatoes, rolls, and pumpkin bread maybe cranberry bread. One friend is bringing the brussles sprouts, an apple pie, and a berry pie, the other friend is bringing a pumpkin pie. Those who wish it can watch football, football and more football. The rest of us can just relax.
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