Turkey Day!

The crisp, cool air and the smell of food cooking in the house.  Walking into a steaming hot kitchen, along with the sounds of clanging pans and the ruckus of all of the out-of-state family members.

Food is on the stove, in the oven, and the turkey is being fried in the backyard. My dad is running in and out checking out the turkey with a cold one in his right hand. The football game is playing in the living room, the Cowboys are on as per usual.  My grandpa is kicked back in his lazy boy teasing the dogs, my aunt is hollering at her three kids who are always up to some kind of mischief, and my stepmom is slaving away in the kitchen ordering me around to help.

I also get summoned to the kitchen, especially when it’s time to add the marshmallows to the top of the sweet potato casserole — which of course is my favorite part of the dinner.

Finally, we all gather around to load our plates up with all of the goodies: green bean casserole, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, corn, turkey, and croissant rolls. (This is of course after we argue about who gets to go in and get their food first — it’s the polite thing to do ). Once the commotion of everyone getting their food is over, we sit down and have our feast. My grandpa has his plate back with him in his lazy boy chair — sharing it all with the dogs.

Once all of the meal has finished, I truck myself, full belly and all, to my mother’s house to have another meal. Forget the dessert when you have a second meal to attend to! I drive 20 minutes to join my mom and her boyfriend’s family for an equally as appetizing feast.

Soon as every meal has been vanquished and the desserts have been gnawed on, we go to bed in our tryptophan comas and sleep in heavenly peace until next year.

I’m thankful that once every year, the aroma of cooking food and the crispy cool air takes me back to the comfort of family and giving thanks.

Side note: this was my grandmother’s favorite holiday. When she passed away 3 years ago, I tried to keep the traditions of homemade food and assisting with keeping the spirit alive every Thanksgiving Holiday.