Times changes and things change with time. However, some things stay blissfully the same in my memories – like the Thanksgiving day we put the cooked turkey out on the back porch and the neighbor’s dog stole it and drug it around half the neighborhood before another dog took it away from him. Or the time mama’s cousin Benny unexpectedly showed up for the day, fresh off the ship that had docked in Newport News. How handsome he was in his uniform and how proud I was as we sat on the side porch and neighbors dropped by to welcome him home for the holiday. Our cousins from various parts of NC showed up and brought their feasts with them so we could all have a brief visit before he shipped out to the Mediterranean.
I’m looking over my menu today and find that is almost identical to one from 1960:fried chicken, baked ham, turkey and stuffing, gravy, cranberry orange relish, collard greens, home canned greened beans, home frozen butter beans, corn, candied yams, devilled eggs, potato salad, home made pickle tray, home made yeast rolls, iron skillet baked cracklin’ cornb bread, fresh coconut cake, pecan pie, ambrosia, banana pudding, citrus punch, sweet iced tea. In other parts of the South, similar menus will be spread out on tables to ooos and ahhhs. There will be local specialties added to menus and some items will be subtracted.
The day starts with hunters heading out to the woods while the women stay home and cook, listen to the parades on TV, and tell stories about the past or present – laugh and cry together. Those who have passed are remembered with tears and love. Babies on the way are belly kissed or touched and given a prayer that their delivery will be safe and mom and child will be healthy. And if a new member of the being is introduced, to tell her horror stories about her date (yep, that boy rode that old hawg a mile before he had the sense to fall off).
I’m grateful to be a Southern woman. I probably move a little too slow and say “bless your heart” too many times, but I’ll do my best to make you happy and comfy and safe.
I wish all of y’all a blessed Thanksgiving. My our gracious God cause His face to shine upon you and His love extend to all of you and yours. Bless your heart!
kanzen sakura 