I always panick a bit before Thanksgiving. Last year, I told my husband, yes, we are going to the country club, I didn't feel like cooking, the thought of it sounded exhausting. We went to dinner, a table of nine. I was happy, ecstatic, content to be waited on and not clean a dish. I could actually have a conservation with my mother-in-law, pay attention to my preschool aged son, talk to my three stepchildren and eat my dinner all at the same time. My husband, on the other hand, disliked the idea of having Thanksgiving dinner right along with 100 other people in a huge banquet room. He thinks it's impersonal, not a hearty, home-cooked meal where one can kick back and relax. I see his point, however, I get to have a break. Cooking that darn bird and timing it with all the side dishes, making sure everyone is content and happy with appetizers, drinks, can be quite an undertaking, not to mention the cleaning. Oh, the cleaning, not something, I look forward to.
This year was a little different. We went to my mother-in-law's, my husband and I, and our five year old, and my husband's brother on actual Thanksgiving. My stepkids were coming over on Friday, and spending Thanksgiving with their mom's family. My older sister, Leslie, just went through a divorce, was invited along with her two sons. However, she decided to spend it at her ex-husband's family, since my nephew's birthday fell on actual Thanksgiving this year. Personally, my mother-in-law is 82, widowed, and I did not think she should be cooking on Thanksgiving, but everyone insisted that we should not go to a restaurant or the club. We planned having everyone over at OUR house on Friday evening. I wanted to rebel, and I seriously thought about ordering pizza, since it was no longer Thanksgiving. I felt like it was cheating, though, and it is not easy to get everyone together. I realized it would be about 17 people, and who would want to have Thanksgiving food the day after? I ordered a turkey for 12 from Gelson's, thinking it would make my life easier. I premade my famous chicken casserole (actually, it is my sister, Leslie's recipe) and put it in the fridge for Friday.
I asked my cleaning lady to come late on Friday and help.
We went to Dubby's, my mother-in-law, and ironically, she had ordered from Gelson's too, (a different location) but she had thrown away the directions. I looked everywhere for them. I knew one is suppose to pierce the top of the container, if one uses the microwave, and put on the container on a tray if one uses the oven. Everything is timed, depending on the item. I couldn't remember it all specifically. The directions are quite important, since everything is little plastic containers, and cooking it incorrectly can result in the plastic melting into the actual food. I am not the most superorganic mom, but the thought of that makes my lose my appetite. Somehow, it happenned. I tried to help, but my five year old, son, Austin, couldn't figure out his new yo-yo, and needed my attention. My husband and his brother were watching football and as Dubby put the bread rolls in the microwave. When we sat down for dinner, Austin took one bite of his turkey, and stated,"Mommy, I don't like this turkey." I told him that it was not a nice thing to say, and he immediately apologized. He tried something else, and I could see the result on his face. I guess his P&Q's classes did not pay off. I gave him "the look" of please behave. I asked him to try something else, and he tried the sweet potatoes. My lovely in brother-in-law told my son in a teasing voice that if he did not like it, he could go spit it out in the trash. Before I could I say another word, off my little one went to the trash can, to spit it out. I wasn't sure whom I was more irratated with, my husband's brother or Austin. Dubby apologized, we ate a pumpkin pie, which was my first attempt with a "real" pumpkin.
On the way home, Andrew said to me,"You were right. We should have gone out to dinner. My mom shouldn't be cooking this type of meal at her age. It's just too much."
"Yes, honey-" I tried so hard not to say, I told you so.
"We should have taken her out to dinner, it was selfish of me," he said. Really?
The following day, Austin and I picked up the 18.5 turkey along with the fixings. I was so grateful I had someone to take it my car. When we got home, I got sidetracked with setting up, phone calls. One of our nephews had the stomach flu, the other, a bad hacking cold. I told them, please get better, do not come here and get every one sick! I forgot to put the darn bird in the oven. I finally remembered at 3:30 pm, which was a little late. I also wanted to get our holiday photo done, which I usually do at Thanksgiving. Somehow, it all came together, and Leslie showed up with her pumpkin pie, and made the rice. My brother in law helped with the turkey. Dubby relaxed and had a scotch. My cleaning lady brought her granddaughter so Austin had some one to play with. Nieces and nephews came over, along with my older (step)kids.
The bird was taking forever, so everyone chowed on appetizers, and it was apparent everyone was getting hungry. We finally took it out, and it was still pink. It turned into a long Thanksgiving dinner, which I was truly grateful for. Our friends came a little late, but everyone was just in time for dinner. My family is great, even though
at times, they can drive me nuts. I really wanted everyone to go around the table and tell what they were grateful for, but by the time we sat down, I forgot about that idea.
So what am I thankful for? I just got over bronchitis, so here goes-
Health. Having the melanoma mole removed early enough in 2009. Staying healthy.
My wonderful son. My very reliable husband-
Our family.
Having a roof over our heads.
Having my sister nearby (our family lives on the east coast and midwest).
Great friends.
Love and laughter.
A cooked bird, even though it takes more time than one thinks-
Food, bread, cheese and wine.
