Engelbert Humperdinck ( yes, I Googled the spelling) had a hit song in the late Seventies, ” This Moment In Time” which resonated with me recently. Age does not have a monoply on time because if you can’t recall memories good, bad, or indifferent what good are they? There is an old saying, ” Sometimes I sits and think and sometimes I just sit”. When I do sit and think I am reminded of special times and days from my upbringing. Of course one can spend hours comparing the past to the present. Remember, the only constant is change. With Thanksgiving only a few weeks away I did “sit and think” how my family celebrated Turkey Day. Rest assured it was nothing like Norman Rockwell’s famous picture “Freedom”, but we did have a turkey.
Yes Mildred, far away and long ago people in my neck of the woods celebrated two special days that were seperate and apart of each other, Thanksgiving and Christmas. At our table how dare one at Thanksgiving dinner use the blessing of this day as the gateway to Christmas. The mere mention of Christmas would bring out the worst of my mom’s brown eyed lasers. Trust me you did not want to go there.
After a five minute blessing from my mom covering every relative on the family tree, neighbors, preachers past and present and even Brownie our dog, we began the meal. Turkey, hoping the drumsticks were sticking up, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, rice, peas & beans, and mom’s sweet potatoe pudding baked on a cookie sheet and cut into squares.
After the meal it was then and only then that you sat and let your thoughts turn to Christmas. Can I get an amen.
Be safe—Happy Thanksgiving.
Joe's Bakers Dozen 