Thanksgiving Memories

I remember going to bed on Thanksgiving eve as a child with my mother busying herself in the kitchen.  Most people would find light streaming through the crack of their bedroom door annoying. However, it gave me a sense of comfort,  especially during the holidays.

The rattle and clatter of pans didn’t keep me awake. Instead, they simulated a peaceful lull causing me to drift off to sleep.  Turkey basting in the oven all night filled my nostrils with a savvy aroma wrapping my very essence with a snug warmth.

On Thanksgiving day, the table displays a feast of tempting delicious foods: a stuffed turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, a green congealed salad, fresh yeast rolls, and assorted pies. Sometimes my parents would host the feast and other times we would go to my grandparents, but where ever we had dinner it was a wonderful treat. This is one a very distant memory.

Fast forward, my mother worked in retail for most of my years growing up even into my early adulthood. One Thanksgiving shortly after getting married, DH and I went home for the holidays. My mother had to work Thanksgiving day til closing. I decided to lend Mother a hand by preparing dinner or at least what was left to be done. One important thing needed my attention, making Mother’s home-made yeast rolls.

I watched her prepare these for years, and I even helped a time or two.  I figured, if I followed her recipe then it would be a sure-fire shoe in the deal, right? I measured, mixed, and stirred, then shaped the dough into each roll before placing them in a pan to do its rising magic! I took care of other matters while I waited.

Later, I returned to pop the yeast rolls into the oven. I pulled the cloth away covering the rolls. To my astonishment, they swelled three or four times larger than I had expected.  They looked nothing like my mother’s in size.  Something went terribly wrong and for the life of me couldn’t figure out what I did. The obvious culprit was too much yeast. My daddy had such a huge belly laugh over that flub, but the good news is the over-sized rolls tasted delicious.

Whenever I think drumsticks, I think of my brother. JC always made sure to reserve the drum stick for himself.  He had done that since he was a boy. In 2006, JC had to go away to live with Jesus.  Since he left us every Thanksgiving when I see that drum stick I get the sense JC is joining us around the table for our feast. Thanks for the memory little brother!

I wrote the poem I’m Thankful For for yesterday’s posts inspired by Mama’s Losin’ It weekly writing prompts. That pretty much has fueled today’s random…random Thanksgiving memories post. You guessed it, Mama’s Losin’ It Thanksgiving theme!

About now, I’m sure you have a lot of randomness going on upstairs and you’re dying to let loose with it. Dash over to Stacy Uncorked and link up your stuff, your random stuff that is.  Also, I want to say, I’m thankful for Stacy keeping the randomness alive while Keely @ UnMom is taking a break! Slip into the ranting mood with the rest of us. I know, you’ll feel right at home. You won’t run into any odd ball looks here because anything goes. C’mon on, join the weekly fun with this cool meme and tell Stacy, “Cathy sent ya!”

I’ll be by your blog a little later, have a good day!

Would you be so kind to keep in prayer, two dear friends? Today, Latella lays her husband to rest after battling cancer this year and Lisa’s husband suffered a heart attack about a week ago resulting in a spiral down condition leaving him on life support. Sadly, later this afternoon the doctor will remove him from this machine because there is no brain activity. My heart is heavy for my friends. This news truly pulls my own thanksgivings into perspective.  Please, ask for God’s blessings to be upon them. Thanks for the prayers!