[dbussone]

As a youngster and teenager we would travel to Maine from Massachusetts to celebrate Thanksgiving with my Mom's family. We'd gather at my aunt's house, joining about 15 people altogether. I can remember all the noise from many conversations and the smell of the meal cooking, especially the pies. My favorite pie was the rhubarb always made by my grandmother.

How about you?

[samhass]

My family will be here. It doesn't get more special than that.

[Sandtrap328]

When I was in college in Iowa, one Thanksgiving I was invited to my brother-in-law's parents farm for a big Thanksgiving with their family.

I am going to guess around 25 people of all ages from a few seniors to young children. Lots of very good traditional Thanksgiving food.

What struck me strange and still does was the division of the sexes and ages after the dinner. The women all went to the large farm kitchen to put the leftover food away and to do all the clean-up work. The children all went outdoors to play touch football. The men all went into the living room to watch televised football and to play poker.

[coralway]

4 day weekend

[DruannB]

I remember the year my mother boiled the turkey because she and dad retired and she swore she would never cook again. They built a new house and she didn't put an oven in the kitchen--thus the boiled turkey. My brothers and I went out to the only store open in their little town--a convenience store--and bought hot dogs. We brought them back to their house and boiled hot dogs for 15-20 people. It was much better than the pale-looking, and bland, turkey. We remember that Thanksgiving fondly. My mother is still alive at 94 and still hates to cook.

[2BNTV]

Spending time with the family. Unfortunately, there are only a few of us left.

Miss those times at my aunt's house, with all of the family. She baked four different kind of pies. To say I ate too much, would be an understatement.

[Villages PL]

Yes, Thanksgiving was great for me when I was young, when I didn't think the excesses of people stuffing themselves did any harm.

I remember all the many starches that were served in one meal.

1) Bread

2) Turkey stuffing (more bread)

3) Mashed potatoes

4) Sweet potatoes

5) Corn

Not to mention 2 servings of cranberry sauce and two pieces of pie (pecan pie and pumpkin pie) with a scoop of ice cream.

We gotta teach this to our kids and grandkids and keep this tradition going!!!!

[tomwed]

I think it's the leftovers, maybe.
I like to cook and will find myself daydreaming from time to time about soup, pot pies, turkey salad sandwiches, and hot stuffing-turkey-gravy sandwiches.

Is this a little sad?
What I make will also be for others, but still.

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by tomwed

I think it's the leftovers, maybe.
I like to cook and will find myself daydreaming from time to time about soup, pot pies, turkey salad sandwiches, and hot stuffing-turkey-gravy sandwiches.

Is this a little sad?
What I make will also be for others, but still.

Not sad at all. The pot pies will obviously be fabulous.

[Shimpy]

My favorite holiday because everyone celebrates it. It is not a religious holiday. It comes in the best time of the year with fall weather and the wonderful colors.
Plus the great food and family get togethers. I of course must mention it's right in the middle of football season.

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by Shimpy

My favorite holiday because everyone celebrates it. It is not a religious holiday. It comes in the best time of the year with fall weather and the wonderful colors.
Plus the great food and family get togethers. I of course must mention it's right in the middle of football season.

Now that's an interesting addition. Football! I'd bet there are numerous homes with more than one TV tuned in on Thanksgiving.

[patfla06]

I like that it isn't about presents but cooking and showing your love
For your family and friends.

My Mom always did Thanksgiving. We would drive from N.J. to
Long Island in N.Y. Traffic that was crazy.
The cooking smells and warmth in the house were the best.

When we moved to Tampa I took over Thanksgiving and
have loved every minute of it!
I just wish my Mom was still here to spend it with us.

[redwitch]

My parents always invited all the "strays" to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with us. The house was always full, the food was wonderful and we all had a great time. I continued the practice in San Francisco but was unable to do so here -- just not enough people who don't have family to eat with. Just no fun to cook for less than eight to me.

[EnglishJW]

Family

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by tomwed

I think it's the leftovers, maybe.
I like to cook and will find myself daydreaming from time to time about soup, pot pies, turkey salad sandwiches, and hot stuffing-turkey-gravy sandwiches.

Is this a little sad?
What I make will also be for others, but still.

I don't think that's sad. I daydream about chilly fall weather and the first snow flurries, football games on TV, and how it would always make me want to bake bread. Tons of different kinds of bread for four people, and later two people.

My mother made the driest turkey in the world. She bought the cheapest turkey she could find, threw it in the oven and never basted it. I didn't know turkey could taste so good till I had my mother-in-law's Butterball.

However, she made killer stuffing and fantastic gravy. And TG wouldn't be TG without a can of jelled cranberry sauce (complete with can dents) emptied out onto a plate all in one piece and then sliced. I was devastated when the Ocean Spray people changed their cans so they couldn't be opened at both ends.

I love Thanksgiving, no matter how many people are around. Football and cooking. I love it.