On this day, I propose that we all focus on the things for which we are thankful. Here's my short list; I invite you to use the comboxes to offer your own. On this day, let's not argue with each other, but rather put down our swords and sit at the same table in gratitude.
I'm thankful for:
... my family, who are my rock and my joy.
... my church and my friends.
... that I have a job, even as so many do not.
... this blog and the people who post here; even though it (and you) drive me crazy sometimes -- and I know I return the favor! -- it remains for me a source of stimulation and pleasure, every day.
...my country, and the soldiers who defend her.
... food, and the pleasure of cooking (and, if you must know, this amazing recipe for gigot de sept heures, which is probably the most delicious thing I made all year).
... that my dad made it to 75 this year -- something that, given his heart condition and his family's history of heart disease, wouldn't have happened if not for medical advances.
... newspapers, an endangered species.
... the iPhone, which is the best invention EVER.
... the fact that my doom and gloom scenarios failed to materialize for another year.
... new opportunities, which I'll explain on Monday.
One more thing: what are y'all cooking today? Here's our menu:
Roast turkey, cornbread dressing, spicy sweet potatoes (with coconut milk and curry paste), smothered cabbage, apple and celeriac slaw, homemade cranberry sauce, baked brie in cranberry sauce, pate de campagne, creamed Malabar spinach, and sauteed green beans with sage. Our guests are bringing desserts and rolls. We're going to have lots of white and red wine, too.
Happy Thanksgiving, and don't forget to be grateful. Why the heck not?
UPDATE: Well, the turkey is rocking and rolling in the oven, stuffed with Meyer lemons and Louisiana satsumas, and a fistful of rosemary from our garden. We're already drinking white wine and eating goat cheese. Time to start making the Malabar spinach and the slaw. Julie and I are listening to The Splendid Table's Thanksgiving show, which is terrific, and available streaming live online. Lynn Rosetto Casper spoke earlier to a wine guy who had just finished watching the Macy's parade from the restaurant Per Se, one of the world's great food joints, which chef Thomas Keller turns into the world's fanciest IHOP on this day, inviting friends and their kids for breakfast buffet, and to watch the parade pass by below. Can you imagine? Lynn just interviewed Garrison Keillor, who read a lovely benediction he wrote called "Table Grace." I went online looking for it, and didn't find it, but did find Garrison's Thanksgiving column. Excerpt:
My family gathers in the house that Dad built in 1947, by the fireplace that Great-Uncle Alfred, a stonemason, built when he was 80. He lived to be 90, and whenever you saw him and Aunt Millie, they were holding hands. Joining us will be cousin Dorothy Bacon, who recently told me that my grandfather James, who died before my time, loved to read and even out in the field raking hay with a team of horses he had a book in his hand; that he was often seen kissing Grandma; and that every night, until he was very old, he carried her in his arms up the stairs to bed. Good to know these things.In my day, we went outdoors after dessert and ran off our dinner and when it was dark, were allowed back in the house, and we flopped down on the floor and listened to Uncle Lew tell about the night their house burned down in Charles City, Iowa, and afterward watched "The Bell Telephone Hour" on television with Robert Merrill and Patrice Munsel singing "Dear Hearts and Gentle People," and then a horn honked in the driveway and my sister came down from upstairs where she'd been primping in the bathroom and Mother said, "Tell him he has to come inside and pick you up, he can't sit in the car and honk." And so the boy came in. Sheepish, tongue-tied, hair oiled and swirled around on top, he stood as close to the door as possible and we inspected him as a potential relative and thought, "Naw. She could do better."
I remember the urgency of that horn honking. It meant that Thanksgiving was over. The family that had gathered in a tight circle around the feast of tubers and turkey was now breaking up, in search of something finer. The call of the grown-up life. We all hear the honk and run away in hopes of finding a major romance and adventure and grandeur, and good luck with that, and meanwhile, life is good. Be grateful for it.
Indeed. I was driving out this morning to buy flowers and crushed ice, and thought about St. John Chrysostom's great sermon at Pascha, which to this day is read in the Paschal liturgy in Orthodox churches the world round. It is a welcome to the banquet. This is a Christian religious homily, obviously, but if you think about this sentiment in a secular sense, this is the spirit of Thanksgiving: of welcome, of fraternity, of feasting, of joy. I've pasted the whole thing below the jump. Read on and rejoice:
If any man be devout and love God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast. If any man be a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord. If any have labored long in fasting, let him now receive his recompense. If any have wrought from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If any have come at the third hour, let him with thankfulness keep the feast. If any have arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; because he shall in nowise be deprived therefor. If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing. If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness; for the Lord, who is jealous of his honor, will accept the last even as the first; he gives rest unto him who comes at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who has wrought from the first hour.And he shows mercy upon the last, and cares for the first; and to the one he gives, and upon the other he bestows gifts. And he both accepts the deeds, and welcomes the intention, and honors the acts and praises the offering. Wherefore, enter you all into the joy of your Lord; and receive your reward, both the first, and likewise the second. You rich and poor together, hold high festival. You sober and you heedless, honor the day. Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast. The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away.
Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness. let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon has shown forth from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Savior's death has set us free. He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it. By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive. He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh. And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry: Hell, said he, was embittered, when it encountered Thee in the lower regions. It was embittered, for it was abolished. It was embittered, for it was mocked. It was embittered, for it was slain. It was embittered, for it was overthrown. It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains. It took a body, and met God face to face. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.
O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory? Christ is risen, and you are overthrown. Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen. Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and life reigns. Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave. For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen.
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I'm grateful for all these little glimpses into the lives of my fellow readers. I feel humble admiration for all your great work taking care of your families and friends, enduring trials and still finding the energy to share your joys. I've enjoyed meeting you, and I'll enjoy thinking about you and wishing you well in future.
I'm also grateful for the kindness shown to me by many of you, over the time I've been commenting here. And I'm grateful to those of you who don't appreciate my remarks, as well. You keep me sharp, awaken insight within me, and provide me with hours of harmless amusement. Remember, I love you even when you're naughty. ; )
Janice Fox, welcome. You sound like such a nice person. Please don't get too discouraged when things go all pear-shaped around here. We're not really as mean as we sometimes sound. Just keep dipping your toes in the blogoverse, and I'm sure you'll find a place where you'll be comfortable.
Kathleen, if that's a "simple and basic" dinner, I'd love to be invited when you go all out!! I hope you continue to recover and enjoy your new stove. I'm a delicate brussels-sprout green with envy.
Gerard, thank you for your kind words. Though, as usual, I feel that you give me too much credit. If people knew what a great person Mr. Sig was, they'd be fighting for a chance to take care of him. It's a privilege. That's why I keep his location secret. ; ) Our best wishes to you and your family, as well.
A few years ago, one of the burners on our vintage GE electric stove blew up as my husband was making the gravy. The explosion blew a hole right through the bottom of our Ironclad roasting pan and scorched the old-fashioned smoke hood over the stove. Luckily, my husband was not leaning over the pan when this happened, but he was quite frightened, as were we all. I remain thankful that he was not hurt! We replaced the stove with a newer GE model, and the pan with its Ironclad twin. This year, preparations for the dinner passed without incident. We had turkey, bread and mushroom stuffing, mashed potatoes, creamed pearl onions, homemade cranberry-orange sauce, brussels sprouts, pumpkin pie, and (my innovation) apple pie topped with an oatmeal crisp crust. Everyone from the four year old to the three 87 year olds at the table ate heartily, and the conversation sparkled. Thank you, Lord!
Turkey, brined overnight. Sweet potatoes with sage and pecans, stuffing made of quinoa and wild rice (note: wild rice should not, in fact, be baked after it's cooked. It rehardens!) Green bean casserole, broccoli and cheese, pies, rolls, homemade cranberry sauce. Togetherness:).
The dinner was terrific; as best I could, I followed family tradition and did it my grandpa's way, and it turned out yummy.
The best part, though, was the presence of my oldest son, his wife and the grandson whom I hadn't really met before.
Yes, life is good.
Yesterday and today have been utter bliss with all the holiday means. My partner and I went to his sister and brother-in-law's house, had turkey with all the normal fixings' plus green bean casserole (the Campbell soup kind!) football and silly movies. Today they came to our house and we continued the feast with us doing the cooking. We avoided black friday and just had great fun with each other and watching the nieces play with our new kitten.
Can anything ever be better than that?
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