‘The upside — and, alas, the downside — of Turkey Day.’
Bless his little birdie heart, that turkey up there looks like he’s flipping me right back. Well, I did roast him, after all.
Many of you will have already seen this photo, which I posted on Facebook before The Dude carved Mr. Turkey up into succulent slices, but after I’d imbibed beaucoup de glasses of wine.
I decided to use it here (the photo, I mean) because A) it got a lot of reaction from my Internet Friends, and B) it gave me lots of good material, in the form of comments. (My opening remark came courtesy Judy R. Thanks, Judy!)
Other clever comments came from Mary Ann B H, who asked if this was “going to be my Christmas Card”, to which I answered “Great idea! If in fact I sent Christmas Cards”. And Debi F, who asked “Did you paint that thing? It’s perfect!?!?!” (No, Debi. No paint was involved in the making of this turkey. But I do have two words for you turkey cooks: convection oven.)
I’m needing all the help I can get with this week’s post because even though Thanksgiving is quite honestly my very favorite holiday (read ‘Turkey Shoot’ for five Rockette-solid reasons why it beats the stuffing out of Christmas), it is also exhausting.
No no. Pie-making is not exhausting. Pretty exhilarating, in fact. Especially with Van Morrison on the Bose
It’s not the preparation that’s exhausting. I rather like the pie-making and vegetable-prepping. I even like the table-setting. In fact, those who honor me with their presence on this Best of All Possible Holidays know that I can be rather a Kitchen Nazi, hogging all the chores for myself. (Though this year I did let the Young and Fit haul out the extra folding chairs.)
Even the last-minute orchestration, I like. The potato-mashing, the gravy-making. (For a hilarious gravy tale involving my father and some cornstarch-and-confection-sugar confusion, read ‘In the kitchen with Dad (and the Coal Miner’s Daughter’.)
Nope. The Getting It All Ready is not the exhausting part.
The exhausting part is the aftermath. That emotional hit that socks you when it’s all over. I mean, here you are, ready for Thanksgiving Day — so ready. And then it arrives and so do the guests, and the aroma of Mr. Turkey in the oven doing his roasting thing is wafting through the house while you’re sampling cheeses and wine with your family and friends.
The Pilgrims might not have enjoyed cheese at the First T’giving. But we sure do, along with mucho wine (not pictured, because it’s being clutched)
And then, there you are, squeezing around the table for the Big Dinner (fifteen here this year — a record!) You’re passing the sweet potatoes and the brussels sprouts and the stuffing and the gravy and the cranberries — and the turkey, of course — and being toasted as the hostess (with more wine), which is a very nice part indeed. And then you’re on to the pies; pumpkin and apple and apple-cranberry. But pretty soon — too soon — even the Words-Against-Humanity-and-even-more-wine-part is over, and everybody’s in bed but you.
And why aren’t you in bed? You’re standing at the kitchen sink clutching a dishcloth and yet another glass of wine because you just can’t believe it’s over. That’s why.
Oh, of course there is the next day. I don’t know what you do at your house, but we go on a hike to work up an appetite for demolishing whatever leftovers are left over. Then we mess around slack-lining and shooting pool and playing board games before capping off the day with Big Beef (the recipe for which you can find at the end of the afore-mentioned ‘Turkey Shoot’).
One of the People Under 60 attacking the slack line. Yes, he can actually walk on it, but this photo is the best I can do. I was inside clutching a dishcloth and missed the walking part
Oh, and we polish off more wine. Maybe we watch a movie (this year was Matt Damon/Jason Bourne). Oh, and we go for more pie, if there’s still some left after The Dude’s attacked it at breakfast.
Pie. Breakfast of Champions. At least for Whitmores
But the end of that day is the same as the end of the day before: me, by the sink, clutching the dishcloth and yet another glass of you-know-what.
And if you think Friday is bad, you don’t want to know about Saturday, when all the People Under 60 leave. Or even Sunday, when our Best Same-Age-Friends (the ones who bring the cheese and wine) take off, and it’s just Me and The Dude. Who immediately disappears outside to do whatever it is Whitmore Dudes do out there. Thank goodness by then I’ve managed to erase all traces of cranberry (eaten), pumpkin (ditto), and turkey (turned into soup). But, thank the Goddess of Post-Holiday Blues, there is still more wine.
This pretty much sums it all up, post-Thanksgiving-wise. Thank you ever so for the use of your work, Fab Cartoonist and FB Friend Mike Lynch (!)
Oh. Before I leave you (not to indulge in more wine; it’s way too early for that, even for me) let’s go back to that flippin’ photo I posted up top (and on Facebook). My delightful Cousin Carole commented “I think you should frame this and display it every Thanksgiving…sort of a family tradition.” Thanks, Cuz.
But look what I found (!) The photo below, featuring my One and Only Dad, was taken in a completely different place (at my Middle Younger Brother Roger’s) and at a completely different time, but it seems to capture my family’s attitude toward traditions pretty well. And not just on Thanksgiving.
I guess the turkey doesn’t fall far from the tree. Or the roost. Or something
Amagansett, New York. November 2016
Oh Alice, I love your stories and I desperately want to celebrate Thanksgiving with you some day. I can so relate with much of this. We are having our Thanksgiving Feast Tomorrow, I have started to bake the pies, and boil the eggs for deviled eggs….it’s just turned past noon, so I think I can start drinking the wine now.
Well, Cherie. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I’d like to send my thanks to YOU for taking precious pie-baking time to write such a lovely comment. I certainly hope you drank that wine! (Oh, now I want deviled eggs; they’re not on my T’giving menu, and I dearly love them!
Awesome photo, and stories…but I am mostly just drawn to your epic cheese board. Wowza!! That looks like cheesey heaven.
Cheesy Heaven indeed! I was concerned when this tradition began that no one would have room for Mr. Turkey after ‘gobbling’ all that cheese. But that proved not to be the case…not at ALL. Oh, and the pies? No problemo xo
Hilarious! We have a rule in my house. I host, cook and clean, so someone else does dishes, usually my sister and my husband.
I hope you have a fabulous Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving to you too, Susie! I like your rule (!) And yes, I do get help cleaning up. But somehow I do end up Last Person Standing. By the sink. Clutching a last glass of wine and quietly reflecting. And sometimes silently weeping.
Brilliant post. I love the photo at the top, made me chuckle, you naughty girl 😉 If you have a cheeseboard like that every year, I’ll book myself in for next year x #weekendblogshare x
So glad you got a kick (and a laugh) out of this! Yes, we do have a cheese board like that every T’giving — and a whole new (and different) one the next day. Our Same-Age Friends love cheese even more than they love turkey. Or even pie! xo
I love pie now I am hungry. Funny piece you have here. Found you on #weekendblogshare
Thanks for enjoying the piece. Sorry I made you hungry (!) but I do make pretty good pie, if I do say so myself. So glad you found me. I found you (too) on #weekendblogshare
I really wish we had Thanksgiving here in the UK, I don’t have enough pie in my life! #weekendblogshare
I’m sorry for you; it really is the BEST holiday. Come on over next year!
I am always jealous of thanks giving. I wish we did it here in the UK! #weekendblogshare
Oh! Too bad! It really is the BEST holiday. Come on over next year!
Cheese too? If only I could be there for the leftovers… Appetizing post, Alice. 🙂 (Entertaining too. And pie.)
Thank you! Alas, leftovers were few and far between. But so delicious. I can hardly wait till next year (and pie) !!!
Gorgeous turkey. I want more instruction than “convection oven.” We’ll talk. 🙂
Why, thank you, Sharon! It was as delish as it was gorgeous — and yes, we’ll talk. We’ll talk turkey! xoxo
Ha! Wine makes the cleanup go faster, I think, Alice. We should have a National Flipping Off Day, where we can flip-off freely without repercussions. You do a pretty darn good flip-off. I think you have practiced. There is nothing like a whole roasted turkey – I think it is necessary as just buying a turkey breast does not give it the whole flavor. Just sayin’, since our friends only cooked the breast this year.
Ooooo, just the breast, huh? Too bad, ’cause I agree. Besides, my peeps prefer the dark meat; I end up with mostly breast for my soup. But at least you had wine!!!
Oh, and I bet you ‘do’ a pretty good flip-off, yourself, ma’am!
Funny piece, Alice. Made me laugh, made me hungry.
I don’t know which I’m flattered by most, Jim, the laughing or the hungry. I think I’ll go with the laughing xo
may i just say that you are the most delicious human in the world! i smile, i cry, i nod my head in extreme human empathy, as I believe i am sitting in your house with you and your family. xxxooo
Aw shucks, Debi! So glad you can relate. Come on over and join us in person any ole time!