Happy Thanksgiving

Elbows on the Table Please - Happy Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving, we have so much to be thankful for. Our beautiful lives, our family, our friends and so many other blessings. I also like to find the many reasons to laugh. This is a blessing in itself. Laughter heals and helps us all enjoy and relax with each other and share smiles. These precious moments are priceless and they are the true treasures of Thanksgiving. So, read and enjoy.

I think back to some formal Thanksgiving dinners shared with family and I have to laugh. Mom would be reminding us kids to keep our elbows off of the table and to ask for some dish to be passed to us instead of just reaching over the full table and grabbing it. We would all roll our eyes and give each other long suffering looks across the table. Over time, things seem to have become more informal and thank goodness. Now, the scene at the table goes like this. Napkins are for the table and the hands, not the lap. Rarely do we ever drop any food in our lap and so what if we do? The dog is there. Just knock it off onto the floor and he will take care of it. That is what he is for. After all, it is Thanksgiving for dogs, too, right? Right. Happy Thanksgiving, Rover. We also like to drag our arms, sleeves and fingers through the food as we grab it. It just tastes better that way! Also, when you get back home, you can remember each delicious dish served by looking at all the pretty and colorful and most memorable stains on your clothes. Pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce and good God, it's gravy stains are all present and waiting to be washed out. Much later. Much. We are too full to move or do anything until Christmas.

Pass this and that to the left and to the right, no way! We will stretch right across the table, grab that dressing and empty half of it onto our plates. Yes, we know that there are two more huge pans of dressing waiting in the oven and we do not want them to go to waste. They will, however, be going to our waists. That is inevitable. We do not care. We do, however want to save room for the pumpkin pie. Always. We will feed the dog, the cat, the pet monkey, the pet bird, the fish, the baby and whatever else is hungry right from the Thanksgiving table. Now, that's Thanksgiving. Gravy will be poured all over every thing and every one who gets in the way. We may even turn the gravy bowl up and drink from it. Who cares? It is Thanksgiving! Enjoy!

At last, we attack the desserts that could not fit on the very full table. They are everywhere! On counters, coffee tables, in the frig, on chairs and on the fireplace. Cookies, candy, homemade cakes, we will find all of them and we will have a piece of each! That is the Thanksgiving law and don't you dare break it. Your family won't let you. They will say things like "Why didn't you eat Aunt Martha's pecan surprise jello?" or "Did you try Uncle Will's Brunswick stew?" and you do not want to ever have to answer "no" to any of these important questions! Someone's feelings might get hurt. So, you will try it all. Yes, even the fruitcake. You cannot ask why they brought fruitcake out before Christmas. Just feed it to the dog, pray he eats it and say "Whew, that was good!" That's Thanksgiving! If the dog gets sick, clean it up quickly. Mercy.

Most families go turkey crazy at Thanksgiving and if there is not careful planning, you may end up with baked turkey, fried turkey, barbequed turkey, grilled turkey, tofu turkey and smoked turkey. Send everyone home with lots of leftovers and nobody will have to buy groceries for a few months. Yum. I love Thanksgiving. More food and more food means more love. That's what Thanksgiving is all about. Now, remember to take lots of pictures of the baby wearing gravy all over his or her face, the dog running with a turkey leg bone in his mouth and trying to dig, bury and hide it in the potted plant because nobody will leave the table to let him out and of Grandmother eating so much, she just plain fell asleep at the table and we all just kept on talking! Who put those turkey feathers in her hair? Oh well, she will laugh, when she wakes up. Remember, a full burp or belch at the table is allowed and it is a true compliment to all of the fabulous Thanksgiving cooks and chefs! It will also make everyone laugh. Keep those elbows on the table and keep passing the love and smiles. Reach over and grab that food. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!