The upcoming Thanksgiving holiday brings about memories of holidays past, traditions and being in the company of family you don’t see often. It also brings a smile to my face when considering what the festivities bring. However, it also carries a weight of anxiety about all that must be done to prepare for the feast.
For years my girls groaned and moaned about chores I insisted they do and they affectionately called me ‘crazy’ a time or two while cleaning the light fixtures. I remember my own dear mother standing in the kitchen two days before Thanksgiving and grumbling as she made pecan pie, banana pudding (the stove top type), and chopped vegetables in preparation for dressing. Insisting I iron the table cloth, dust the porcelain figurines and “how about cutting up that celery, while you’re standing there?” What goes around, comes around, I told my daughters.
This year we’re leaving town. My California daughter invited my husband and me to come to visit and eat turkey. She’s called a few times to check on particulars about making such a large meal. Like, “Mom, how many pounds does the turkey need to weigh to feed, say, 6 people?” I hope to be able to help in some small way to bring about the meal she wants to serve. Her calls reminded me of my very own first Thanksgiving dinner when I made an apple pie from scratch, including a hand made pie crust but neglected to peel the apples because it didn’t instruct me to do so in the recipe.
My husband’s favorite tale to tell is when I purchased fresh sage from a health food store and added too much to our dressing, turning it forest green. Mistakes will be made. It’s all in the way you handle the disappointment. Sometimes the meringue won’t set and sometimes the dressing is too dry and green.
In the end, candles are lit, cloth napkins folded, the house smells wonderful and warm smiles from friends and relatives you love sit around the table. We hold hands and we say grace with thankful hearts and minds. Gone are the irritating chores, the angry voices, the feelings of inadequacy. God knows how to replace the anxiety that comes with preparing for a large family meal with loving kindness when we all realize how fortunate we are to have such a time together.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: HOLT: Prepping for giving thanks