Sunny River Writings

Thanksgiving, turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, family, football, lazy afternoons, napping in the recliner. Thanksgiving was all of that for him. This was his favorite holiday. He would get up at 4am to help his wife stuff the turkey. Putting it in the oven by 6 or so it would be ready when the family arrived for lunch and the Thanksgiving day feast.

He loved the smells, sage and cinnamon and turkey. His job was carving the turkey. To him it wasn’t a job but his right, earned because he was the head of the family. No one else could carve the turkey. It was his. All his.

And he didn’t just slice or chunk it. First he eased the knife through the top edge of the breast meat. It was customary for him to take the first taste making sure it was cooked just right, nice and tender. It was also tradition for him to give the second nibble to his eldest child. She stood quietly by his side, watching the turkey being put on the cutting board. Waiting patiently as he father sharpened the carving knife. Wide eyed as he shaved off the first piece and then the second.

Once they had both tasted the mouth watering piece of meat she stayed glued to his side as he, like an artist, carefully chose where to make a cut. First removing the legs and then the wings. Next gliding the knife across the breast meat, paper thin slices, laying them neatly on moms platter. The oval one with dainty roses painted around the rim of the platter. After all the white meat was cut he began on the dark meat. Again slicing thin slices and lining them up neatly on the platter.

By the time the meat was carved and artfully arranged the platter was placed in the center of the table. The turkey surrounded by mashed potatoes light and fluffy, sweet potatoes covered with brown sugar and marshmallows, green bean casserole steaming from the oven, and cranberry sauce that brought a cheerful color to the table.

There were also biscuits golden brown, butter and honey. A relish tray overflowing with black and green olives, celery and carrot sticks, cauliflower and broccoli leaflets, and cherry tomatoes sat at the corner. The feast was ready. The family was ready. Thankful for this feast that day. As they gathered around the young and the old shared what they were thankful for and what they hope for the months to come. With full bellies and the feast put away until dinner some went outside to play, some gathered around a card table to play a game or two and a few retired to a recliner or couch to relax. With a smile the cook and hostess was thankful for another blessing of family gathering together.