Although three people in this household have US Passports, we haven't really celebrated Thanksgiving in a serious way until this year. I remember a party at the US High Commission in Seychelles, but it was probably the 4th of July. We also went to the US Tracking Station to eat BBQ chickens that had been flown in by Galaxy jet from, well, Kentucky, I guess. 'Good, but not great.
Unlike Independence Day, Thanksgiving is a family thing, so, if you are not family, you don't get invited. It's a big deal; my brother Alex flew all the way to San Francisco to be with Juan and Lisa this week.
My entire knowledge of the event comes from Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion. He describes Lake Wobegon, in Missed County, Minnesota, where all the women are strong, all the men good looking, and all the children above average. Just like my home town, then.
The grown up offspring of the town drag their kids up from Minneapolis and Chicago to spend the day with their folks. 'Trouble is with family gatherings, that there are many undercurrents, especially in a community descended from Norwegians who don't say a lot. Things that have gone unsaid for years, are likely to go unsaid again this year, unless the grandchildren let the cat out of the bag or the in-law (from the city) can just hold it back no longer.
So the convoy of prodigals stops at a diner on the edge of town so that parents can shape their kids into respectful Lutheran grand-children, in less than thirty minutes before they get to Grandmas house.
This year, we decided to make a go of it and have our own Thanksgiving at home. I took the day off work and we frantically slept, shopped, cooked and cleaned house. We scoured books and magazines for recipes, settling on turkey, gravy, squash stuffed with rice and cranberries, sweet potato, corn, and a load of other good stuff in case that wasn't enough. Our guests were Bridget and Nina (two of Dan's carers) and Hannah who was on the team until just recently. We tuned into Maine Public Radio to hear Irwin read the news, and to Portland Community Radio, via the Internet (which I believe will be a big thing in 2010). We also watched James Taylor in concert while we cooked.
Well, I have to say, it was better than Christmas! That is, like Christmas, but without presents. We got to focus on family and friends, look at old photos and videos and really relax.
So, I recommend Thanksgiving to all you Limeys, Scots and Dutchies out there. Try it next year, but avoid the green jello salad; only Americans like it. Definitely stay away from grits.
What's next? St Nicholaas, of course! Watch this space.
Unlike Independence Day, Thanksgiving is a family thing, so, if you are not family, you don't get invited. It's a big deal; my brother Alex flew all the way to San Francisco to be with Juan and Lisa this week.
My entire knowledge of the event comes from Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion. He describes Lake Wobegon, in Missed County, Minnesota, where all the women are strong, all the men good looking, and all the children above average. Just like my home town, then.
The grown up offspring of the town drag their kids up from Minneapolis and Chicago to spend the day with their folks. 'Trouble is with family gatherings, that there are many undercurrents, especially in a community descended from Norwegians who don't say a lot. Things that have gone unsaid for years, are likely to go unsaid again this year, unless the grandchildren let the cat out of the bag or the in-law (from the city) can just hold it back no longer.
So the convoy of prodigals stops at a diner on the edge of town so that parents can shape their kids into respectful Lutheran grand-children, in less than thirty minutes before they get to Grandmas house.
This year, we decided to make a go of it and have our own Thanksgiving at home. I took the day off work and we frantically slept, shopped, cooked and cleaned house. We scoured books and magazines for recipes, settling on turkey, gravy, squash stuffed with rice and cranberries, sweet potato, corn, and a load of other good stuff in case that wasn't enough. Our guests were Bridget and Nina (two of Dan's carers) and Hannah who was on the team until just recently. We tuned into Maine Public Radio to hear Irwin read the news, and to Portland Community Radio, via the Internet (which I believe will be a big thing in 2010). We also watched James Taylor in concert while we cooked.
Well, I have to say, it was better than Christmas! That is, like Christmas, but without presents. We got to focus on family and friends, look at old photos and videos and really relax.
So, I recommend Thanksgiving to all you Limeys, Scots and Dutchies out there. Try it next year, but avoid the green jello salad; only Americans like it. Definitely stay away from grits.
What's next? St Nicholaas, of course! Watch this space.
No comments:
Post a Comment