Gathering Traditions

Thanksgiving isn't a particular day; it's the day when your loved ones gather.

Years ago, when I lived in western New York and my pal Wenirs and her family lived a mere six hour drive away in Michigan, we developed a strong tradition of spending holidays together and it was rare that we missed a Thanksgiving. One year, it snowed and sleeted so hard that we simply couldn't make the drive, slogging sadly to the local Wegmans market to buy a small turkey to eat with just the two of us. Most years, however, either they would drive east or we would drive west, usually on Thanksgiving day to avoid the traffic, and we'd celebrate the holiday the next day.

Since I moved to California, our Thanksgivings together have been far fewer, but this year I managed to snag Wenirs' son Mark for a second Thanksgiving dinner on the Saturday after. He drove up from LA and while he was sleeping off his long drive, I put a second turkey on the rotisserie and set a table filled with family traditions.

The table itself was a gift from our friends Irene and Guy. The china originated with my great-grandmother; the silver was a wedding gift from my parents; the water glasses came from my mother's best friend (and Wenirs' mother), Bobbie, for my sister, who sent them to me. The wine glasses were a wedding gift from My Beloved's brother Ted. On the plate, in addition to the traditional turkey, are our good friend Jack's mashed potatoes as well as wild rice and black olives in honor of Wenirs who always served those at her Thanksgiving table. The squash is a new recipe to me this year but one that was such a hit that it will become traditional from now on.

Thanksgiving isn't a particular day; it's the day when your loved ones gather, whether in person or in spirit.