As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly — the 2024 Thanksgiving thread

I don’t vote the way most of my family does. I experience God in different ways than they do. I even cheer for a far superior college.

But at heart I’m a kid from the mountains. And it is in our blood to go home for the holidays, dating back to the hillbillies on the Detroit assembly lines who would leave for the hollers mid-wrench turn if necessary.

The years I’ve had to miss out have been dreadful. The years when seeing mom and dad is no longer an option are way closer than I care to admit.

Heading up Thursday night.

 

I'm always amused by this story ever year, whatever the amount is (the average in this story is $58.08 per per person for a dinner of 10 or more people.

Thanksgiving dinner is historically affordable this year

My wife and I hosted for family two years ago. 13 people in all. We spared no traditional menu fare: turkey, ham, mashed taters, sweet potato casserole, green beans, corn, rolls. 2-3 people brought pie (Mrs. Pauls, Stouffer, whatever). My wife said she spent just about $300. So I don't know what the people at the theoretically $58.08 Thanksgiving meal are having. Lobster rolls? Prime rib? A few bottles of Caymus?

 

I miss "Cross Giblets of Death." I always felt she could have turned that into a TV series. Her escapades were funnier than any "Everyone Loves Raymond" show.

 

My parents have lived in the Phoenix metro area for more than 30 years (they moved there in their 40s, well before they retired). I’ve been there a couple times for Christmas, many times for spring break, but never for Thanksgiving.

Until this year. We fly down there midday on Thanksgiving day, and I will spend a week.

My sister and her family live nearby in Gilbert, and neither she nor my parents are big fans of “traditional” Thanksgiving food. So we’re all getting together on Friday for a cookout with bratwurst, burgers, potato salad, etc.

Just like the pilgrims!

 

"Partners in Crime" with Loni Anderson and Lynda Carter was something else. I can't remember a single plot, but I remember those two.

 

We don't go home much, these days. Three of my last four assignments have been more than eight hours away, and driving isn't as easy as it used to be.

We've become close with another of the several military families in our neighborhood. We'll celebrate with them as if they're family -- even if they're all in the Navy.

 

We have hosted a dinner every year since we bought our house in 2007 (except for 2020). Because of aging relatives who said that they won’t drive in the dark, this is the first time we are doing a lunch and having people over at noon. Of course my kids are upset that they don’t get McDonald’s for lunch, which has been a tradition.

 

Christmas has always been the holiday I spend with my mom, will drive up there for four or five days at the end of December. We never did Thanksgiving because in my old newspaper days, I always had to be somewhere for Friday playoff football. Was going to see some friends in Lynchburg for Thanksgiving but more and more, I think I just want to hang close to home and enjoy the days off. Never been a huge fan of Thanksgiving food (outside of stuffing) so I don't feel like I'm missing much. I'll make some sort of dip or charcuterie board, watch football, maybe take a gummy and zone out. Head out to the bar around 5 to hang out with folks. It'll be a nice chill day. Plus, I'm traveling next week to Brooklyn for four nights that I'm sure won't be tame, so I'm trying to save my energy for that.

 

I hear you on the games. Besides playing a bunch of card games with my parents and other family, the good old Big Boggle game from the 1980s will be brought out. While others will play, it will come down to my sister and I jotting down words only the other can see. We're still very competitive about that game, decades later!

 

A good reminder to pack the board games, especially Ticket to Ride.