Family gatherings are both fun and challenging. We look forward to spending time together, and really do enjoy seeing one another. But the pressures of life can be multiplied when we're expected to perform. Especially on Thanksgiving, everything must be just right. We get out the china and the crystal, make special rolls and mashed potatoes, put the black olives and sweet midget pickles on the table. Of course the bird must be cooked to perfection, and then there's the gravy.
We hosted some exchange students from Japan this year for what they were told was a "traditional dinner." Traditions aren't something you examine directly, unless you're an anthropologist. But when you're explaining them to someone from another country, you get a different perspective. How many Americans think about the fact that in other countries they're not celebrating the last Thursday in November with a great feast to remember all there is to be thankful for? And they don't celebrate the Fourth of July either!
Preparations for the "traditional meal" begin early at our house, as I suspect they do in most homes. It starts with trying to find a time to go shopping when it won't be a problem just trying to push the cart down the aisle. And making sure you really need another box of lime Jello for the special salad mold. Storing a 22 pound turkey where it will thaw, but not too quickly, can give me fits.
When the out-of-town guests arrive we all get to put on our game faces. But since it's my daughter and her husband there's not much need for masks. They get more of the "real" sights and sounds of "home for the holidays. This isn't the first go round for either of them, since Amanda grew up here and Joel was here last Christmas, so they're not surprised.
Soren runs out to help them unload the car, Haddon meets them at the door in his PJ's. One of them takes Joel's bag and says, "You're sleeping on the futon, right?"
"No," he explains, "that's one of the advantages of being married. We'll be sharing a room now!"
The boys look puzzled, but no further explanation is needed as they take both bags downstairs to Katie's room.
One of the last jobs the night before is to stuff the bird. Division of labor calls for Susi to make the stuffing, making sure to put some apple in it. Then it's my job to get as much of it as possible into the hollow cavity of the giant fowl. It is then decided that the turkey will rest in the back of the Subaru until it's time to go in the oven the next morning. The potent aroma of onion and seasoned bread crumbs will hover in the car's interior, but at least the poultry will stay in the "safe zone" - below 40 degrees - preventing the "proliferation of harmful bacteria."
At approximately 6:30 a.m. on the Big Day I check the weather and realize that my featherless friend has been out in 20 degrees, so I decide to get it in the oven a bit early. Our friends will be joining us at 1 o'clock and I want to make sure everything is ready. It's nice not to have newspapers to deliver on Thanksgiving Day - benefits of small-town living, there's no paper on Sunday either.
Finally it's time to drive to the University and pick up Mizuki, Yuna, and Marie. There are five seets in the sweet-smelling Subaru so only one son can accompany me. Haddon gets the honors because, "There has to be something that the younger brother gets to do that the older one doesn't!"
Our friends are happy to see us, even though we've just met. Their English is quite good, making conversation easier. Haddon acts shy at first, then, warming to his task, begins to explain things.
"Soren's at home, that's my brother, he's 11. Amanda and Joel are there too."
"We don't live very far away, we'll be there soon."
At home it's nice having Amanda and Joel, who ask good questions. Then the girls learn to play
Dutch Blitz while I carve the Turkey and make gravy.
"Do you think we should tell them that this card game was invented because the Dutch Reformed believed that common playing cards were 'tools of the devil?'"
Susi doesn't think this is such a good idea. Some things tend to get lost in translation.
Finally the rolls are out of the oven, the turkey and gravy are on the table, along with everything else that our family considers the "Thanksgiving essentials." We call everyone to the table, eleven in all, and I try to explain the origins of this holiday before having each one share something that we're thankful for.
Strange to think that families all over are sitting down to similar meals, at various times of day. We explain to our guests that some things are pretty "standard fare" - the turkey, potatoes, stuffing and gravy. While other items might be unique to our family, like the "frog pond salad" (not made with real frogs, I reassure them, getting a nice courtesy laugh.
It all turns out nicely. The kids enjoy another game between the meal and the pie - "Wii dance." The Japanese girls tell me our boys are good at it! After apple and pumpkin with whipped cream I drive them home. They assure me it was a memorable experience. I am very glad we had them come.
One other thing sticks with me. It's "Only in America." Not because we're the only ones who are thankful, or even because we have the most to be thankful for. But because the Governor of Mass. set aside a day to remember to give thanks, and we have continued to observe it. That's my story and I'm sticking with it!
We hosted some exchange students from Japan this year for what they were told was a "traditional dinner." Traditions aren't something you examine directly, unless you're an anthropologist. But when you're explaining them to someone from another country, you get a different perspective. How many Americans think about the fact that in other countries they're not celebrating the last Thursday in November with a great feast to remember all there is to be thankful for? And they don't celebrate the Fourth of July either!
Preparations for the "traditional meal" begin early at our house, as I suspect they do in most homes. It starts with trying to find a time to go shopping when it won't be a problem just trying to push the cart down the aisle. And making sure you really need another box of lime Jello for the special salad mold. Storing a 22 pound turkey where it will thaw, but not too quickly, can give me fits.
When the out-of-town guests arrive we all get to put on our game faces. But since it's my daughter and her husband there's not much need for masks. They get more of the "real" sights and sounds of "home for the holidays. This isn't the first go round for either of them, since Amanda grew up here and Joel was here last Christmas, so they're not surprised.
Soren runs out to help them unload the car, Haddon meets them at the door in his PJ's. One of them takes Joel's bag and says, "You're sleeping on the futon, right?"
"No," he explains, "that's one of the advantages of being married. We'll be sharing a room now!"
The boys look puzzled, but no further explanation is needed as they take both bags downstairs to Katie's room.
One of the last jobs the night before is to stuff the bird. Division of labor calls for Susi to make the stuffing, making sure to put some apple in it. Then it's my job to get as much of it as possible into the hollow cavity of the giant fowl. It is then decided that the turkey will rest in the back of the Subaru until it's time to go in the oven the next morning. The potent aroma of onion and seasoned bread crumbs will hover in the car's interior, but at least the poultry will stay in the "safe zone" - below 40 degrees - preventing the "proliferation of harmful bacteria."
At approximately 6:30 a.m. on the Big Day I check the weather and realize that my featherless friend has been out in 20 degrees, so I decide to get it in the oven a bit early. Our friends will be joining us at 1 o'clock and I want to make sure everything is ready. It's nice not to have newspapers to deliver on Thanksgiving Day - benefits of small-town living, there's no paper on Sunday either.
Finally it's time to drive to the University and pick up Mizuki, Yuna, and Marie. There are five seets in the sweet-smelling Subaru so only one son can accompany me. Haddon gets the honors because, "There has to be something that the younger brother gets to do that the older one doesn't!"
Our friends are happy to see us, even though we've just met. Their English is quite good, making conversation easier. Haddon acts shy at first, then, warming to his task, begins to explain things.
"Soren's at home, that's my brother, he's 11. Amanda and Joel are there too."
"We don't live very far away, we'll be there soon."
At home it's nice having Amanda and Joel, who ask good questions. Then the girls learn to play
Dutch Blitz while I carve the Turkey and make gravy.
"Do you think we should tell them that this card game was invented because the Dutch Reformed believed that common playing cards were 'tools of the devil?'"
Susi doesn't think this is such a good idea. Some things tend to get lost in translation.
Finally the rolls are out of the oven, the turkey and gravy are on the table, along with everything else that our family considers the "Thanksgiving essentials." We call everyone to the table, eleven in all, and I try to explain the origins of this holiday before having each one share something that we're thankful for.
Strange to think that families all over are sitting down to similar meals, at various times of day. We explain to our guests that some things are pretty "standard fare" - the turkey, potatoes, stuffing and gravy. While other items might be unique to our family, like the "frog pond salad" (not made with real frogs, I reassure them, getting a nice courtesy laugh.
It all turns out nicely. The kids enjoy another game between the meal and the pie - "Wii dance." The Japanese girls tell me our boys are good at it! After apple and pumpkin with whipped cream I drive them home. They assure me it was a memorable experience. I am very glad we had them come.
One other thing sticks with me. It's "Only in America." Not because we're the only ones who are thankful, or even because we have the most to be thankful for. But because the Governor of Mass. set aside a day to remember to give thanks, and we have continued to observe it. That's my story and I'm sticking with it!
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