Repost from 11/27/2015
It is official…I am off Thanksgiving duty. For no less than 25 years I have been the cook, picker-upper, baker, briner…of the biggest meal of the year. This year, my oldest son had to work on the Friday after Thanksgiving so since this would be a new year in all ways for us, we had the family holiday in Chicago all prepared by my son and his girlfriend. The Turkey to whom I was married for 30 years was elsewhere, so it was the best Thanksgiving ever!
I brought/bought the pies and ice cream. I sat and watched the dog show with a cocktail in hand and did a little knitting with all of my loved ones around me and it was beyond awesome. I entered the kitchen briefly every hour when my Apple Watch told me it was time to stand up. I would rinse a dish then continue on my way through and back to the sofa.
We had the most delicious meal, that incorporated all of the traditions that we are used to in a new and super tasty way. We took off for a movie: the kids reserved the seats and called for the Ubers, then back for my store bought pie and ice cream which was terrific. I said my goodbyes and walked to my hotel for a little quiet time and off to sleep.
Isn’t this the way it should be? I have handed off the baton and I am never taking it back. I had all of the good stuff (time with loved ones, good food, watching the dog show, movie, pie) with none of the pain. No all day in the kitchen. No running the dishwasher two or three times then putting all of those dishes away, some for the year. No walking into the living room to find everyone in front of football asleep. This is Nirvana and this genie is never going back into the bottle or kitchen.
I do just have one thorn in my side that seems to travel with me and it leads me to this questions…who was the person who thought it would be a good idea to begin a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning? I have done the run with my family for two years and thought going to Chicago would get me out of that torture. Nope. Chicago has one, too. There is no escape. I have run in snow, I have run in way below zero temps. This year, I have to say it was dry and fairly warm so I was less of a complainer than usual. And, I had the option of a 5K so I took it in a heartbeat. The rest of the family ran eight miles. I am fairly sure that the Pilgrims did not have to run on the first Thanksgiving. I am not thankful for the Turkey Trot. I plan to work on eliminating it from my holiday for next year!
Happy Holidays,
Paula
