thanksgiving is over. can i get a dilly dilly?
it's my favorite holiday of the year with all that stuffing, gravy and pumpkin breads by the dozen. but man, thanksgiving is a crapload of work for a 15 minute meal, don't you think? i don't know about you folks but after a long week of work, kids off on vacation starting wednesday at 12:45pm, and the holidays glaring at me like a a hungry dog that hasn't been fed, getting a meal together for 23 people in my house felt like i was preparing to run the NYC marathon, but hadn't really put the appropriate amount of effort into my training.
thankfully i am the youngest of five and had myself some kick*ss reinforcements on my team. mom popped out to my house on monday night to set my tables (she's the martha stewart in this crew). i had sister-in-laws and brothers bringing extra turkeys and pots of mashed potatoes, appetizers and of course more beer, wine & huckleberry vodka (my contribution) to inebriate a small army (which, on thanksgiving day, we in fact are). and for all the stress of strain of trying to keep this pot of gravy warm, these sweet potatoes from setting off the alarm because the marshmallows kept burning and those damn kids from polishing off the loaves of pumpkin bread that i felt like i kept slicing and replenishing only to turn around and see it had vanished again, it's the most wonderful holiday of the year for me. there is no anxiety of: is she going to like my gift? did i get my goddaughter the right size? does my tree look lopsided. thanksgiving is all about food & family.
no one really cares if the turkey is dry (it was, my thermometer read 220 degrees at one point...and yes, i did go to cooking school). drown it in gravy. no one cares if they are stuck next to boring aunt rita, top off your champagne flute and she will seem far more interesting. the focus is gratitude and i for one, after a year of harvey weinsteins & roy moores, of mass shootings at concerts and churches, need nothing more than to look around my farmhouse table over a decadent plate of food to see the people i love all in one place, laughing loving and together for one fleeing moment to know how lucky i am.
remember that folks as we head into the next 28 days. there may be people who you think: i can't spend a holiday with so & so, they are too bossy/nosy/nasty/depressing. try. acceptance. they won't be around forever. one day you will look back and wish you had just found a way to accept their insecurities and flaws because they will be gone and you can't bring them back. there is good in everyone, well, maybe not harvey, but you know what i mean. i for one am grateful i am to have what i have. can i get another dilly dilly? happy monday and order yourself something nice today
