Happy Thanksgiving! Please Pass the Pasta.

I always looked forward to Thanksgiving when I was growing up but not necessarily for the same reason as a lot of other people. It wasn't about the food, it was all about seeing family. You see, I couldn't care less about all of the food. In fact, I looked forward to it in spite of the food! I am one of a very small minority (or so it seems) who doesn't eat turkey. I don't eat any fowl whatsoever. The truth is, I don't even like being in the same room as someone eating it. It has been this way for as long as I can remember. The last time I ever attempted to eat fowl was during the Summer of 1978 - I was visiting my girlfriend and her mother asked if I wanted to stay for dinner. I accepted the invitation, not knowing that barbecue chicken was on the menu. I remember eating it and wishing for a quick death. It's been even longer since I had a hot dog, but I digress.

As I mentioned, I looked forward to Thanksgiving not for the feast but for the company. Most of my family lived in New Jersey and I saw them throughout the year but one of my mothers' sisters lived in Massachusetts with her family; I usually only got to see them at Thanksgiving and Christmas. My two (2) aunts are only 10 and 11 years older than I and growing up were more like older sisters to me. I never called either "Aunt" until I had kids of my own. I don't know if they know it or not but they both played a big part in who I am today and were a big influence.

Thanksgiving was the day we all got together at my grandmother's house for dinner - there was my grandmother and her two (2) sisters, my uncle with his family and my aunts with their families. It got pretty crowded but no one seemed to care. It got particularly crowded around the fireplace if it was a cold day. I don't remember exactly when but at some point the Thanksgiving dinner was moved from my grandmother's house to my parents. There was more room and, at times, more people but it wasn't quite the same. Then my parents sold the house and moved to Florida, they came back for Thanksgiving and stayed through Christmas but dinner had moved to my aunt’s house. There were even more people and more room, even a fireplace, but it still wasn’t Grandma’s house….

Once I got married and started my own family we would split time between the families, more times than not I think we had dinner with my family and dessert with my wife’s family. I cannot remember the last time my entire family got together for Thanksgiving but I know it has been at least 10 years. Family members have moved away and some have died. We are now spread out – East Coast, North and South – even a different country!

The last few years we have stayed at home for Thanksgiving dinner. We have the traditional turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc…. but we also have pasta. There was always pasta at my in-laws’ and there is always pasta at my home. This year is no exception. There have been years when my wife has to work until early afternoon so my kids would do the cooking – my job is to make the dinner rolls. The dinner rolls have been my job for at least 20 years, maybe more. I think I was up to about 4 dozen at one time.

I miss the old days a lot sometimes, as hectic as they could be. I would love to be able to stand in front of my grandmother’s fireplace just one more time after dinner, talking to my aunts and great-aunts. I enjoyed talking to my uncle, of course, but after dinner it was difficult because he was usually asleep on the couch. He could eat a ton and sleep through an air raid siren!

I am thankful for the memories I have and for the memories that are made every day. I am thankful for my wife and kids, as well as my extended family. I am thankful for those who have stuck by me in good times and especially for those who have stuck by me in the bad times. I am thankful for my friends, both old and new. I am thankful that I have an opportunity to give back to the community through volunteering for a couple great causes – it is more fulfilling than I could have ever imagined.

Thank you for stopping by and sticking around long enough to read this closing paragraph. I am also thankful for you, the readers of my posts, for indulging me. I find great joy and satisfaction in writing that I never expected. I wish all of my fellow countrymen a Happy Thanksgiving!