I am going to go ahead and admit that Thanksgiving wasn't easy on us. The holiday came on the tail end of an ice storm that had us holed up in the cabin for three solid days and we were all on the verge of a dangerous case of cabin fever. We did the best we could to make it happy but deep down (and at times, not so deep down) we longed to be with our family back in Alabama.
We missed a lot. We missed going to Mom and Craig's. Mom and Craig are usually the most flexible group (among my side of the family), so our get together day is never set in stone. When we do get together to celebrate Thanksgiving, sometimes Mom prepares a full Thanksgiving spread, and at other times we'll have fried chicken and mashed potatoes from Popeye's. Once Craig cooked a seriously delicious lobster bisque. Even when our meal isn't traditional, the time spent at Mama's is nice and comfortable. We scoot around the hardwood floors in our sock feet and Charley is free to safely roam the house making herself busy with very little direction. It's usually cold enough to have a small fire burning in the fireplace. I sit in front of the fireplace long enough to cook the meat on my back while others sink into plush chairs.
We missed going to Aunt JoAnn's and Uncle Jerry's house where every surface is covered in antiques from just about every century (seriously) and it is cozy and familiar. The dressing is award winning and the rolls are hot and glazed with a thin layer of butter. And while the cranberry sauce is tin can shaped, the dressing's life began in an iron skillet. In recent years Chuck has taken it upon himself to bring a full size turkey that is smoked to perfection. He even likes to garnish the turkey plate with pine needles. Bringing an actual turkey is a huge step up for our little unit, since before that time we were only entrusted to bring paper plates or rolls (which for the record is perfectly ok with me). After filling our bellies we all sit around the living room. Most watch whatever football game might be on television and everyone talks. Some nod off in antique wing back chairs while the kids run around, dodging Tiffany lamps and Gone With the Wind memorabilia. My Dad wanders outside and I am usually not far behind. Chuck hams it up with our uncles and cousins...who am I kidding...the aunts too. He hams it up ESPECIALLY with the aunts. We all miss seeing Grandmother with a tray in her lap filled with a sample of each dessert and a hot coffee. We miss her wisdom and humor, but appreciate the tight knit love she created and left behind.
After leaving Aunt JoAnn's, we head over to Big Mama's house where if we are hungry we are encouraged to eat again. The Georgia-in-laws are in town by then so the kitchen is full. Inevitably, we all end up in there bumping off one another. Sometimes we might eat a small bowl of warm, homemade, vegetable soup and other times we might dig into a Styrofoam container full of BBQ from Uncle Sam's. We stay well beyond Charley's bedtime but leave early enough to allow for the duck hunter to get enough sleep before his big day.
Friday morning it begins. He's got two days to get on the creek and harvest ducks. After that there is a short break, then the season continues....and goes on...and on...and on. He's out there before the sun rises, paddling out to his secret duck hunting spot on Big Wills Creek. When he gets back around midday, we meet at Big Mama's. She cooks a big spread of Thanksgiving delights and we fill our bellies again. We basically camp out there for the entire day. Chuck, his brother, and nephew throw the football back and forth and Phyllis and I sit around with Big Mama watching the little ones.
And if that wasn't enough, on Saturday, we all load up and drive about an hour southwest to Springville, Alabama for a Thanksgiving/Alabama Football party. We dress in our team colors (all crimson and houndstooth with the exception of a few misguided Georgia fans) and every person there adheres Alabama tattoos to their face. Aunt Janice has all sorts of yummy appetizers lined up for the taking and while the kids (and Guy) waller in the floor, the others watch the game. When the football game isn't on, Uncle Charlie might crank up his riding lawnmower and give the kids 'wagon rides' in the backyard. Footballs are thrown. Back porch swings and rockers are in motion.
So this year was different; to say the least. Chuck, Charley, and I got up and meandered around the cabin. Our good friend Jeff came by and brought us a heavenly good pie that Courtney was nice enough to prepare for us. He left to join his family for Thanksgiving festivities but not 5 minutes later returned with an invitation to join he and his in-laws for Thanksgiving dinner. We turned him down but it wasn't easy....(MAN that Jeff has a hard time taking no for an answer!). It was REALLY sweet of him to feel so sorry for us, but we actually had plans to prepare a Thanksgiving meal ourselves.
After Jeff left, we commenced to digging into the pie like it was manna and opening cans of green beans. The turkey was already in the oven. We made sure that Charley was involved in every part of the process and in the end we had a feast consisting of turkey, green bean casserole, dressing, rolls, and pumpkin pie. Not everything was real good, but we enjoyed making it. It was a good "team family" building experience.
When the cooking and eating were over, the day dragged on. We thought of those back at home and wished we could be there. But we are nevertheless thankful to be in Alaska and to have one another. God has been good to us and we are eternally grateful.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Thanksgiving
This entry was posted on Sunday, November 28, 2010 and is filed under cabin fever,missing home,thanksgiving. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response.
It was a very sad day for me also. I know we have so many things to be thankful for Hayley. The best medicine for what ails us is to start counting them literally......one by one. Have a wonderful day sweet daughter of mine. I love you. Great post.
ReplyDeleteI like how you told all the things you missed in Alabama in great detail and then contrasted it with your day in Alaska. It made quite an impact.. such a stark difference. I know ya'll were sad, but coming from someone whose been away for a long time, you find a way to make it work... eventually. You form tight, loving relationships with other people who are away from their families and maybe, if you're like me, acquire more family of your own, you remember that you're going home to Alabama soon, and you just have a nice Thanksgiving. I know that's easy for me to say, being out here in California, where there are more people who are displaced from their family members to bond with, where it's not TOO difficult to get back to Alabama, and where the weather is nice, but it's still the same theory... Things just take time to get used to OR you end up changing the situation to something more manageable. All that being said, there's nothing like being with your Mama, your Daddy, and all your family for Thanksgiving, and I miss that, too. LOTS.
ReplyDeleteWe all missed you guys a bunch too. I am glad you guys made the best of it & had some bonding experiences. All of the same things were going on at Munner's and Janice & Charlie's, but we sure missed you guys being there. Yes. Joseph & I were UGA fans. Jordan wore a Falcons jersey this year because I bought him one for their player RYAN #2, and I added a B to the front of it. So, anyway, he thinks he is hot stuff with his very own jersey with his last name on it:-)
ReplyDeleteMa, you inspired the title for my next post.
ReplyDeleteSister, that is a great thing about Alaska...or Delta Junction anyway. The people are great and willing to form tight friendships.
I know you miss them too. I feel sad that you have been going through this for so many years. Even if you've managed to get "used to" it I know there is always a little bit of sadness there.
Yeah Phyllis you were that misguided Georgia fan I was referring to!!! You and that rebellious teenager of yours!! Just kidding. You know I just wear houndstooth 'cause I like the pattern. How did you add a B? paint? fabric? Sounds cute.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's true. There is always a little bit of sadness there even when it's good.. but I just try to come home as often as I can and beg ya'll to come see me, too. The more we can visit each other, the less the sadness.
ReplyDeleteI added the B with an iron-on patch 'B' and you can tell that I added it on my own, but I think it looks pretty cool like that. At first I was not too sure, but Guy confirmed (since he is the king of fashion, ha, ha, ha, ha). Anyway, Jordan LOVES it! He wore it to school every Friday while football season was going on because all of the kids at all of the schools have spirit days, pep rallies, pirate walks, etc to celebrate game day each week of a home game. Anyway, the Falcons have the same colors as Pike Co, so it worked out great for Jordan. Oh, he is already falling for a girl in his class that dressed up like a cheerleader each Friday, ugh, at 4!!! Joseph NEVER acted this interested at 4!!! I will have to send you a pic on email of their meet-up at one of the games. She hugged Jordan's neck & said I LOVE YOU JORDAN - can you believe that?
ReplyDeleteI thought of you this holiday and realized it must be hard to spend your first holiday far away from family and what you're used to. Our family can somewhat relate, especially my parents. When I was a kid, my father's job transfered from NJ (near NYC) to a tiny town in Ohio. It was quite an ajustment for all of us. (southern/midwest traditions, a town where everybody knows you're name, new friends, no family nearby) I remember that first Thanksgiving was tough. We always went to my Aunt Sharon's, and to have it be just the five of us was weird. You guys really have been doing a great job though at opening your minds and hearts to a new chapter. (Doesn't mean you can't get homesick once in awhile)
ReplyDeleteHey Hayley, I'm a little slow responding. We missed you all very much. You were in our hearts and thoughts. This is a great blog. Thank you for writing about our Saturday/Bama party. I missed seeing you in your stylish houndstooth attire. And I missed hearing you say "This is like being at Granny's."
ReplyDeleteI knew that you all would be blessed with friends in Alaska. And you can make new traditions and memories.
Blessings!
Thanks Katie. You are sweet. You too Janice.
ReplyDeleteI have wanted to post something like this on my website and this gave me an idea. Cheers.
ReplyDelete