I made a turkey for the second time in my life, the first time without any help. It was scary, but I followed Alton Brown's instructions on the Food Network, and I think it turned out okay. It was pretty enough, but I have no way of knowing how it tasted since I don't eat turkey. But like I said, there wasn't much left, so I'm guessing it was good.
To have some part of the people we were missing, I used Granny's red pot to cook the green beans and Mimi's carving knife and fork on the turkey. On my table were blue dishes of Mom's that she got by saving up green stamps at the grocery in the 70s. She was ready to sell them at a yard sale but I claimed them before she could get rid of them. We used the table and chairs Dad snagged from OLC years ago, and on the table was a vase of flowers from a hydrangea bush that Uncle CJ started from a cutting. Aunt Jeri gave it to me when we lived on Bellaire Ave., and I moved it to this house 10 years ago and planted in my back yard. It blooms more beautifully every summer, and this year, it has been warm enough that the blooms are still on the bush.
I love having parties at my house, especially Thanksgiving. It is such a pure celebration. No presents, not much decorating necessary, just food and family. We come together year after year to say, "Thank you," and to remember how very, very lucky we are to have each other to share a laugh and a story and way too much sweet potato casserole.
Happy Thanksgiving!
