SLICE OF LIFE by Reese

Don’t you love this time of year? The colors of the leaves. The crispness in the air. The football blaring from the television and the start of Kansas University basketball. This year Thanksgiving dinner will be at my home. That means I will shop, clean, chop, bake, peel, sautĂ©, roast, baste and mash for nine of us. A relativity small group, but still a special one. I have a table that easily seats twelve and a dining room that will be bursting at the seams but that’s okay. Everyone is welcome in our home.

I’ll be up at the crack of dawn, tying on my apron, baking pecan and pumpkin pies, preparing the turkey and rolling out homemade noodles for the noon meal. My family will each bring their speciality dish to make the meal complete and then everyone divides up the leftovers for a repeat dinner the next day. Does it seem fair that we’ll work for hours in the kitchen to sit down and stuff ourselves in a matter of minutes? Probably not, but sooooo worth it. The men will then move to the living room to watch the Cowboys play and catch a few zzzzzs. The women will do the dishes and then, if it’s not too cool, we’ll head outside to sit around the fire pit on the patio. Archaic traditions I know, but it is what it is and I wouldn't change a thing about it.

Late afternoon, dessert will be served and then everyone will leave. I’ll finally take time to read the paper and scour the ads for the Black Friday bargains I plan to get up early for. I look forward to this all year. (Those of you that know me will not be the least bit surprised by this admission.) With list in hand and game plan in mind, my mom and I sneak out before 5:00 am to join the masses of other idiots, in the dark, in search of deals too good to pass up.

Simple traditions but still very near and dear to my heart. So, from my home to yours may your blessings be many and your troubles be few.
Happy Thanksgiving.

Hugs, Reese

8 comments:

Jessica Mobley said...

Awww, I miss your crazy Black Friday antics. I do not miss going with you though. Too early and crazy for me. Make sure to send me some turkey dinner and a whole pie for Thanksgiving. Love you mommy! Miss you!

Reese Mobley said...

Hey, you couldn't say we didn't have fun. I'll miss you this year.

I'd send you a pie but you're as good of a cook as I am! You should send me a pie! XOXO

Joan Vincent said...

This is the kind of Thanksgiving we have too! Wouldn't change anything. This year one of the kids is hosting the dinner but I'm still making the turkey and dressing so DH can have his turkey left overs.

Penny Rader said...

Great post, Reese! Fall is my most favorite time of year. I've been so delighted with this year's fall -- beautiful weather that has lasted more than a week. :D

Reese Mobley said...

Joan, I would imagine this scene is typical for a lot of families we know. Most traditions are deep rooted. Enjoy your leftovers and have a safe and wonderful holiday!

Reese Mobley said...

Penny, I too love fall. It makes me feel so alive to be outdoors when the weather is so pleasant. Enjoy your holiday!

Nina Sipes said...

Fall is my favorite. I can finally breathe again. The crisp air. YUM!

Starla Kaye said...

I don't think I've had Thanksgiving in my own home in the almost 40 years we've been married. You know what? I'm okay with that.

Since my sister moved back to Kansas from Phoenix (and in the last few years from Kansas City to here), she hosts the holidays in her home. Her kids are younger and she has always wanted to create family traditions for them to remember. They don't have any grandparents, so I'm that combination substitute grandparent, aunt, and biggest kid in the family. My main job has always been to entertain the kids. Tough work playing so much, but someone has to do it.

Thanks for sharing your memory.