Ghosts of Thanksgivings Past

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite Holiday.  It is not just the food that makes it memorable, but a lifetime of experiences and memories that define the Holiday.

As a young child, we had a certain routine for Thanksgiving Day.  This was the 50's and we would start the day in front of the black and white television to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  Soon, though it was time to get ready to go to the Freshman Football Game between the Georgia Bullpups and the Georgia Tech Baby Yellow Jackets.  In College football back then, Freshmen had their own team and were not allowed to play on the Varsity Team until they become Sophomores.  This annual game was for the benefit of a charity - The Scottish Rite Children's Hospital.  It was always at Grant Field in Atlanta and always drew a full stadium...probably the most well attended Freshman Game in the Country!  I remember the slogan of the game: "Strong Legs Will Run so that Weak Legs Can Walk."  Besides being fans, my Dad was a Free Mason and he would proudly wear his Fez and gather us together to go to the game.

Meanwhile, my Mom would stay behind and cook or go to my Grandmother's to help her cook so that when the game was over, we could enjoy our Thanksgiving meal.  Memories of the standard Thanksgiving fare of Turkey and Gravy, Dressing, Sweet Potatoes with marshmallow topping and other goodies are only surpassed by the fond memories of sharing the meal with family.  Aunts and Uncles, Grandparents and cousins plus any other friends that didn't have a place to go.  Eventually, as our family grew, we had Thanksgiving at my Mom and Dad's house.

And then in 1983, I did the unthinkable and moved our little family to Boston.  Faced with our first Thanksgiving without the rest of our family, I took charge and cooked the turkey myself.  Nobody told me that I shouldn't stuff the turkey the night before, but we survived any threat of food poisoning and after a hike through the woods, enjoyed our first Thanksgiving with just the 4 of us! 

In either 1984 or 1985 - 40 years ago, I had a great idea for Thanksgiving. While watching the Macy's parade most years, My Mom always wishfully mused that she always wanted to go to New York for the parade.  So, because of the connections I had made as an executive with Child World, I was able to arrange for 6 VIP tickets to the parade.  We took the train to New York and Mom and Dad flew in from Atlanta the day before Thanksgiving.  Early on Thanksgiving Day we cabbed to the 8th Avenue entrance to Macy's and was escorted through the darkened Macy store back out to the front bleachers and settled in for the parade.  We were told to be there by 8 am....but didn't realize that the actual parade doesn't reach Herald Square until about 10! And it was cold...I mean really, really cold!  So, by the time the parade reached us, we had no feeling in our feet, and were pretty much frozen.  And trying to get a cab back to The Essex House after the parade was nearly impossible.  But we survived, and rather than a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner, our meal that night was at Sammy's Roumanian on the Lower East Side - Chopped Liver, stuffed cabbage and other Jewish delicacies!  But we had created a memorable few days and fulfilled one of my Mom's Bucket List items!

Moving to Florida in 1987 put us closer to Atlanta and made it easier to go there for Thanksgiving, but eventually, we settled into hosting a lot of our friends and neighbors for the Thanksgiving meal.  It seems we always had a full table (or 2) and I became the Head Chef, taking pride in my turkeys and most of the side dishes.  Connie's famous pecan pies always capped the festivities.  By the time we sat down to eat, I was usually already full from tasting everything as I cooked and carved.  So, my favorite food became the late night Thanksgiving sandwich, after everybody had gone home.  That's a Turkey sandwich with Durkees (look it up!) dressing, and cranberry sauce on challah bread - heaven!

Fifteen years ago, we went to Atlanta for Thanksgiving and a reunion of sorts.  My Dad, and all of my brothers, spouses and kids (with the exception of one) were there.  It was really organized by the Cohen cousins and it was the last Thanksgiving we have had together.  I think it is time to do it again! (I chronicled that event in a Blog dated November 30, 2010)

This year is a quiet Thanksgiving.  Lisa and family went to California, and Brad and his family stayed in Denver. So, we have invited over some friends, let Whole Foods do the cooking and will watch some football and enjoy each other's Company.  But while I am most thankful for my family and friends, I relish the fond memories of Ghosts of Thanksgivings Past.

Wishing all a very Happy and Memorable Thanksgiving!

And The Journey Continues.....