THANKSGIVING MEMORIES

We need a break from the harsh realities of the sports world, where scandals are outplaying the the athleticism of the sports.

...AND IT SEEMED LIKE EVERY YEAR WAS THE SAME.
**The turkey had to be bought fresh from Plainville Farms.
**Getting up early to go out and buy Look Magazine to find out who was selected to the All-American team.
** Watching the turkey preparation: cutting a slit in the skin and stuffing salt, pepper, rosemary and a garlic clove in the slit, filling the bird with stuffing, then rubbing the whole bird with lard.
** My mom getting up at 4:00 AM to put the turkey in the oven (to insure, I guess, that it would be over-cooked).
**The pies were cooked on Wednesday: Apple, Pumpkin (for my Dad) and Pineapple (which I loved, but only if Aunt Kay made it).
**All the side dishes prepared and cooked and set aside in aluminum foil-covered dishes (at 9:00 AM in preparation for a 1:00 PM dinner...and no, they weren't hot)
**Uncle Al carving the bird, claiming for all the world that the best meat came from the backbone (over and over)
**Mom and Aunt Kay gnawing on the turkey neck like a pack of rabid dogs.
**My Dad pointing out "...the part that goes over the fence last."
**Just before the turkey came out, scrambling to get the Thanksgiving day bets down. Eight years old and my first bet - only 25 cents and I lost (Damn you, Texas A & M!) ...and Uncle Al kept my quarter, too.
**Gravy that took 25 minutes to prepare and was still thick and lumpy. You could use the leftover as Spackle.
**Judy feasting on all the black olives she could stuff in her mouth before Aunt Kay caught her.
**Too much food and everyone was stuffed. Then came the promise that next year, "We'll get a smaller turkey. 28 lbs is too much for seven people." (Ya' think?)
**Green Bay and Detroit on TV ("Always take Detroit and the points at home.") Thank you, Uncle Al.
**The adults playing cards" Primera, for pennies, and Aunt Alvena taking home all the money ("Gee, there must be $2.00 there, Alvena.)
**Going home with enough leftovers to feed the Third Army.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, everyone!

CP-