My memories of Thanksgiving go all the way back to childhood days cutting construction paper and pulling out the glue to create Indian head pieces and Pilgrim hats in order to act out the "Friendsgiving" origin of when the Indians first reached out to those who had little understanding of creating a harvest let alone surviving in the elements of an approaching winter.
As I grew older Thanksgiving became much more about food and getting a week off of school. Teachers can still express the need for this break at this time of year after the beginning of the school year has drained students, parents and faculty. Once the break had arrived the union with family took precedence. There is nothing quite more intimate than sharing food with loved ones especially in the south.
The mad dash to the grocery begins at least a week before the event, and store aisles become rather bare by mid-week. Recipe books are pulled down from the shelves and scanned with scant memories of the last time this dish was created now a whole year ago. We all know our staple contribution to this meal. Some are known for the dressing, others the roast, some the potato salad or pumpkin pie. Regardless, the dishes are planned out and food is prepared.
One lady checking me out the other day told me she gets up at 3:00 a.m. to begin cooking and barely wraps it up for lunch time. She cooks it in her daughter's kitchen because she lives in an RV and the kitchen is not equipped. As she told me this her whole face was lit up swiping my groceries. She told me it was her favorite time of the year.
Like most of us at most holidays the buildup and the frenzy takes over all of the thoughts of the actual meaning of the holiday. We are so busy wrapping things up at work, stocking up the kitchen, planning out the day that the true meaning kind of becomes lost until the meal is prepared and ready to serve. We then huddle into a circle and hold hands and pray a blessing of thanks. There is a tug of emotion for those who are not holding our hands this year as they did throughout the years in the past. There is a jolt of joy celebrating those lives who have joined into our family since the last day of thanks. And there is the genuine smile getting to see those distant family members we don't get to break bread with on a normal day.
But is it that final moment that begins our joyous event? I have begun to understand that the buildup is just as special regardless of how hectic and stressful it may seem at the time. Like all other holidays in our current generation there is traffic and crowds, chaos and planning, shopping and spending stretched money. There are also phone calls touching base, memories pouring out of that cookbook the minute it is opened back up, and stories shared as turkeys are stuffed, casseroles are prepared, and pecans are chopped.
All the memories of the Thanksgivings past seem to surface as this day builds to its celebrated meal. And the handmade Indian head pieces and pilgrim hats are fresh in our minds as children and grandchildren traipse home with their new renditions. The smells of the season take over the kitchen days before and old traditions become new ones as we in true American style have an explosion of chaos ending in a meal with full bellies and broad smiles. The memories of those nostalgic holidays of the past will always take on that sweet feel of a calmer time, but the blessing that flowed then continue to flow to this day. Another year has passed and we have all been blessed and for this we give heartfelt thanks. So, pass the calories and toast to life.
