Thanksgiving Memories

You couldn’t live in my mother’s house without the smell of turkey wafting through the air. It would literally wake you out of bed. You wanna talk stuffing, you have to try some of my mom’s. Stouffer’s ain’t got nothing on her. It’s homemade and is so good, it’s almost sweet to the taste.

My mother always makes the turkey for the family. She’s mastered it over the years. You can count on it being juicy and golden. I’m thankful for her skills in the kitchen. She comes from a long line of great cooks and bakers. I’m sorta trying to keep up that tradition by stealing recipes from her when I can and then trying them out. Maybe I’m writing all about food because I haven’t had breakfast yet this morning.

At any rate, after getting up out of bed, I plopped down in front of the TV to see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I would often fall asleep during what I call the “showtunes” portion of the parade. I have no real desire to ever to go New York City but I have always wanted to see the parade in person. Maybe that will be possible someday. My sister and I would sit and watch the entire parade until my mom and dad got on us to get ready. We’d end up going to my maternal grandmother’s side of the family a lot. My maternal grandfather’s side was all about Christmas. I don’t ever remember them hosting a Thanksgiving get-together.

We’d, inevitably, rush around the house to get showered and together for the day. We’d take a trip to great grandma Buckingham’s house for lunch/dinner. It was always a blast. My great aunt, Marsha, would always entertain everyone with jokes and funny stories. Again, the food would always be great because my family, they know how to cook.

So, I’m sitting her at my computer at 8:50am on Thanksgiving thinking about watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Instead of going to the Buckingham’s, I’m going to my sister’s house. My mother once again made the turkey but this morning, the smell of the bird roasting isn’t moving through the air in my place. It’s certainly making my sister’s home. In a couple of hours, I’ll rush to get ready and get over to my sister’s place before they eat.

Some things never change and other do, but I’m thankful for everyone and everything in my life. They are all blessings!

Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for reading,

Anyone For A Game Of Euchre?

The card game has long been a tradition in our family. As far back as I can remember, it’s been something my mother’s father’s family has played. I was intrigued by the game when I was very little because all of the adults would sit up until the wee hours of the morning and play.

When we were little, we’d have our own table and play the game. It wasn’t until one of the grown-ups got tired were we able to play. The more you played at the adult table the more you might have a chance to sit in a couple of hands.

My dad is a keen player. He’ll sense you have a loner hand and call something to get euchered instead of allowing you to get the four points. He and my mother love to play the game. My mother is hilarious and may occasionally trump his ace and you’ll hear an exclamation come out of his mouth.

My great-grandmother would play marathon games with her friends or “the girls” as she would call them. They’d never use cards to keep score. They’d keep score using the old four straight lines and one diagonal line to denote five points. They’d fill up an 8″x10″ with all of their games. My great grandmother and about five other women would play and switch out to get some zzz’s when they’d need them. They’d never stop until Sunday morning.

My problem is just finding people who know the rules because it’s not exactly a game that has simple rules.

I love the game, who wants some cheesecake?