It has become very real to me that 2016 is coming to an end, and I wonder where did the year go? I remember when I thought only old people said things like, "This year has flown by" or "The years go by faster and faster". I thought they were crazy! I mean 24 hours is still 24 hours! I realize now that as we get older we try to pack so much more into those 24 hours than when we were young and had no responsibilities. Seriously, I want to be Peter Pan some days and not grow up! Ok - so back to the real topic.... THANKSGIVING.
Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday and really always has been - I mean besides my birthday. Many argue with me that February 5th is not a holiday, but to those in my circle it is because they know I love my day so much. Christmas, as an adult, has always been very stressful to me. There is so much anxiety over if people will love the gift you bought. I always hate buying a gift just to have a gift and not feeling like any real thought went into it. The commercialization of Christmas wears me out. In contrast, Thanksgiving is just family getting together sharing a meal and visiting. Today, I hosted my brother and his family and my mom. My island sister in Hawaii of course couldn't make it and my other sister was with her in laws. Sharing just stinks sometimes! I'm sure they feel the same. So, I hosted the meal a couple of years but I didn't make the turkey. This year was my very first year to attempt cooking the bird. I just did what I had seen others in my family do... slather it with butter, stick onions and celery in the cavity, season it and put it in a turkey oven bag (I seriously want to kiss whoever invented the crock pot bags and oven bags on the mouth) and go. I did find the neck in the cavity but no giblets. I just assumed this one didn't have any. When I talked to my mom (as the turkey was in the oven), I told her they weren't there and she asked me if I checked the other end. What??? Why??? Seriously! So, yes, the giblets cooked in the little bag with the turkey. I found them as I was cutting the turkey. My mom took them. I don't make gravy with them. I don't even like them, Sam, I Am! I will not eat them in a box. I will not eat them with a fox.
The other revelation was how did I ever make it before I had a Kitchen Aide mixer? Seriously, I can totally multitask while it was blending my dough for homemade bread - yes, I did, whipping perfect meringue for my chocolate pie, and mashing the potatoes for my twice baked potato casserole.
No, they didn't pay me for that, but they should. I could totally do an infomercial for them.
The meal (whoever is cooking) consists of our family favorites. My grandmother never had a recipe so I had to sit with her to write down as she cooked and we guessed at her measurements. She taught me how to measure "til it tastes good". My grandparents are in heaven along with my daddy, so holidays have a little sadness around them as I can't help but think of how much I miss them. Today, was no different. I still miss them, but it was more of a peace than sadness. Smells and tastes are memories as much as physical experiences. I was washing dishes and looking out the window in my kitchen this morning. My grandmother used Palmolive as do I. Just the smell of the dish soap and peering out the window - just like at her house- made sweet memories come flooding back to so much time spent in her kitchen. I made her banana pudding recipe and my brother said it was just like hers and he even got teary. I made a chocolate pie that my dad always loved, and as I took a bite I could hear him say, "You did good!"
The last part of this year has been a tough year for me personally, much of which was self inflicted, I admit. I feel like much of the time I have lost my joy. Although I really fight myself to say "Today, I choose joy!" Today, I could say that and really mean it. I felt peace, joy, and happiness today, and I hadn't felt that in a while. Thank you, Jesus, for flooding those beautiful memories back to my heart through the smells and tastes that enveloped my kitchen today. This.... this is why I love Thanksgiving more than anything. I hope your day was filled with happiness as you celebrated Thanksgiving.