26 November, 2015

Thanksgiving

Posted in : Uncategorized on November 26, 2015 by : johnyrocko

 

Some musings about Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving has always been very special for me. It’s the time where Mom and I work together to make the best meal we can for our family and loved ones. I started helping Mom with the Thanksgiving dinner when I was about 10. Brad used to help sometimes but he found no joy in cleaning out the turkey, so it quickly became just Mom and me. I used to be so grossed out by cleaning out the turkey and pulling out the neck and giblets, but now I look forward to it because there are so many good memories attached to it. And I cherish each chance I get to do this because after losing Dad, I’m reminded of how lucky I am to still have her in my life. And I need to store up these memories of good times because, unfortunately, someday I will have to continue the tradition without her help.

When Mom married my Dad she gained an instant family in the form of Dad’s three children from his previous marriage, before she ever had her own child. And I think it’s probably safe to say that Janet Marie, Rob, and Linda weren’t exactly ecstatic to have a stepmom. Mom made it work, though, and provided a loving home for my brother and sisters.

You can see by the picture above that we always had a lot of people over for Thanksgiving. I wasn’t born yet, but you can see Rob with his hand on Brad’s head who was still in a high chair. This was when we all still lived in Swarthmore.

When we moved to Oklahoma in 1971, the size of the Thanksgiving dinners grew exponentially. Dad would invite fellow Doctors from work and all there kids. Mom made two turkeys!! She made one a day before and sliced it up in gravy and that’s what all the kids got to eat, sitting around the ping-pong table in the playroom (which was a converted garage). The second turkey was made on Thanksgiving and Dad always prided himself on carving it perfectly.

But for over 30 years now, I’ve pretty much helped Mom with every Thanksgiving. Mom makes her special mashed potatoes with cream cheese and sour cream, her tangy and delicious cranberry sauce, and much to my dad’s perpetual dismay, some dried corn (a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition).

This year, we’re going out to my brother Brad’s place in Lemont Furnace, Fayette County. There won’t be any of Mom’s signature dishes and Brad will undoubtedly carve the turkey, making it look like it’s been carved with a chainsaw, but we will have family and good memories to savor. Family is what it’s all about.

I hope you all have a safe, memorable and happy Thanksgiving.