Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thanks

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. It's not a flashy holiday that makes people decorate their homes with elegant displays of lights, glitter, and greenery. It doesn't come with tacky front lawn displays of inflatable reindeer, light-up Santa Clauses, or, I swear I've actually seen this, inflatable Nativities. But I think it's important. And not just because of the food

Sure, I like food. OK, I like food a lot. That's why there are so many cookbooks on my shelf. Food tastes good. But what I like even more is preparing food together with people I love. When I was little, it was often my grandmother and me, with her doing most of the work and me "helping" to the best of my abilities. I was probably more of a hindrance, now that I think of it, but I have very fond memories of grinding nuts or drying the dishes while she stirred the batter and told me stories. It was magical. And at the end of the story, there was often a batter-covered spoon for me to lick -- nobody was concerned about Salmonella back then.

Now, it's Mr. Batty and me standing in the kitchen, preparing enough food to keep us fed for an entire week. It's so much fun, chopping vegetables and talking while the stuffing bakes and the pie crust has yet another accident. It never comes out quite right, but that doesn't matter. Really, none of it has to be perfect. It just has to... feel right.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving, Batty. I should think you've earned one.

Nessa said...

It's funny you say that, because those are my favorite parts of all the holidays as well! Not the food (though that part is awesome) but the sitting around on the couch chatting with my sisters before the food is ready, or telling the kids for the thousandth time that NO they can not have pie yet! I love it. big hugs and lots of thanksgiving wishes heading your way!!

Carol said...

I wish we had Thanksgiving, it sounds such a lovely holiday. Hugs to you.

Oh, and you may not realise this, but I was a librarian, I knit (and spin) and probably have even more black clothing in my wardrobe than you do - even though I have three pale cats who shed...

Carol

Kaye said...

Ha ha! You need to move down here--lots of inflatable turkeys in yards!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jo said...

I like the prep of it all - my MIL is doing dinner, so I just contributed an apple pie and pecan pie. And as strange as this sounds, I kind of like having turkey leftovers for a few days and not worrying about having to make anything else :)

Bonnie said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Batty!

Eileen said...

Happy Thanksgiving. XO

kemtee said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Batty.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes it's the accidents and food disasters that make the best and most fun memories. And a quiet, peaceful, non-commericialised holiday is so nice and restful. Although I do love Christmas. But not the inflatable decorations. Those I always want to attack with a dart gun.