Holiday of Food
Thanksgiving has always been a mad chaotic dance of cooking, followed by an eating sprint. Every single year I’m amazed by how much is eaten in so small a timeframe.
There is little conversation, even Brandy’s insistence that we all share what we’re thankful for goes by in a blink and then its heads down and hyper focused consumption.
The Sunday before thanksgiving this year, I was cooking at a friend’s house. I made short ribs, a gremolata for the short ribs, and mashed potatoes. My friend’s son-in-law made a ceaser salad with from scratch dressing and croutons.
We sat around the table for hours, before, during and after we’d finished eating. 3 adults and 7 kids (adult kids, but kids nonetheless).
I can’t think of a single holiday meal I’ve enjoyed more.
It wasn’t the food either, which was fantastic.
It was just a magical Sunday night with people I cared about.
I don’t think thanksgiving will be able to hold a candle to the joy I got out of conversing with my kids and their friends but I know that I’m going to go into it with interest of those I’m with.
I hope all have a wonderful holiday and I hope we can all find some way to make it not about the food.
- Ethan
Hey ChatGPT,
Tell me a story about Thanksgiving…
Certainly! Here's a Thanksgiving-themed adaptation of "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (commonly known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"):
'Twas the night before Thanksgiving, when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The leftovers were packed in the fridge with great care,
In hopes that no one would notice them there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of pumpkin pie danced in their heads.
And mamma in her apron, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our bellies for a long, cozy nap.
When out in the kitchen, there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the kitchen, I flew like a flash,
Tore open the oven, and threw up the sash.
The aroma of turkey, the stuffing, and yams,
Gave a luster of warmth to the pots and the pans.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a table so laden, it drew everyone near.
With a cornucopia, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment, we'd need to be slick.
More rapid than eagles, the family they came,
And we whistled and shouted and called them by name:
"Now, Auntie! Now, Grandpa! Now, cousin and brother!
On, Grandma! On, Uncle! Let's feast like no other!
To the top of the table, to the end of the hall,
Now devour away, devour away, devour away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the ceiling, the pumpkin pies flew,
With a table full of treats, and our stomachs did too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard in the den,
The settling of bodies, quite stuffed from within.
As I drew in my head and was turning around,
Into the living room, the family was bound.
They were dressed all in sweaters, from their head to their foot,
And their clothes were all tarnished with gravy and soot.
A bundle of leftovers they had flung on their backs,
And they looked like a family just raiding snack packs.
Their eyes—how they twinkled! Their dimples, how merry!
Their cheeks were like roses, their noses like cherries!
Their droll little mouths were drawn up like a bow,
And the crumbs on their chins were as white as the snow.
They spoke not a word, but went straight to their beds,
While visions of mashed potatoes danced in their heads.
And I heard them exclaim as they drifted to sleep,
"Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all a good feast!"
-Ethan and his buddy ChatGPT