Happy Thanksgiving

My youngest daughter sure put this holiday in perspective. "You know, Mom, I have four dinners to go to tomorrow and driving home after work today I passed a sad, elderly bag lady on the road. Sure makes you stop and think." And that it does.

Growing up, I remember Thanksgiving as being a large family gathering. It was really something when I got old enough to leave the "kid table" and eat with the grown-ups. But you know, it was more fun at the kid table. My dad and my grandfather and anyone else who wanted to would all grab an instrument and play some foot-stompin' tunes. My dad played by ear, as did my grandfather: "Have you seen my blue-eyed Sally?, She lives a way down on shinbone alley", "Goodnight Irene", or "San Antonio Rose" . How many of you know the words to "Anybody Seen My Gal?'" Sometimes, there would be a harmonica or two thrown in with the guitars and violins. Enough food to feed Cox's army. I never questioned who the heck Cox was. My elders all had such colorful sayings in their language. To be very determined would be phrased as "I'm gonna do it, if it hairlips the governor!" I still call the refrigerator "the ice box" as did my girls growning up. Once a little friend was spending the night and wanted a soda. She was instructed to help herself to the ice box,and I found her standing in the kitchen, puzzling over what an ice box was. Of course, I am not old enough to remember actually using the old Coolerators, but it is funny how certain words or sayings remain through the years.

Our Thanksgiving will be missing a few folks that I would dearly love to set a place for: my dad, my grandfather (PawPaw), my "uncle" Loy, and several others that were so much a part of my past celebrations. But, I will remember them tomorrow, and sing a couple of ditties just for old time's sake. I wil watch Macy's while cooking for my own family. No one plays the guitar or violin at the gatherings now, so I will have to make do with a turntable and some old Bob Wills tunes. Some cooks will tell you that sage is the most important spice in the turkey dressing, but I know that Traditions are the best seasoning for Thanksgiving.