A Happy Thanksgiving


I am looking forward to a return to family traditions this year. Last year was a year of travel, went to the exotic location of Lexington, KY... and Thanksgiving dinner was at Shoneys on the way up. This year it is back at my aunts for turkey day dinner. Oh, I am so thankful for family. There is something fabulous about all of us squishing around her dining room table. We have kids in the family, but I am not sure that a kids table is necessary. There was a time when I was in college that the "kids" outnumbered the grown ups and we had a grown up table off to the side, and the kids still got to enjoy the big table.


Now this is not a slight to my Aunt, but it is this time of year that I really start to miss my grandparents. Grandmother and Granddaddy's house was full of memories and holiday fun. There was an enormous backyard and basement full of strange toys and fun hiding places. Grandmother would have the table set up in their formal living room. Tables placed end to end so that everyone had a place at it. The fun didn't start with dinner, it started when it was time to set the table. Dish after yummy dish was carried through the Den into the living room until this huge table was loaded with food. To be trusted with carrying that food was a huge responsibility and one that I took very seriously. Finding places to put the food, and ensuring that the mashed potatoes started on my end of the table were top priorities for me. Sometime before the actual dinner, Grandmother would pull me aside when the rolls came fresh out of the oven. Though I was always a big fan of the squishy middle, she thought the outside was the best part. So she would promptly pull out the middle and throw it out, butter up the crust, one for me and one for her. I never really had the heart to tell her that what she was throwing away would be what I wanted the most. Eventually I think my mom noticed and spoke up for me. From that moment on, we formed a fantastic partnership... I got the squishy middle and she got the crispy outside. Buttery goodness either way.