No one reads blogs on Friday, but for the few that do, and the even fewer that honor me with your presence here in Fridays, I thought I'd have a little fun with a "Fill in the blank" type of meme, for Thursday night/Friday!
You can leave your answers in the comments on this post, or create your own post with your answers and then come back here and leave the link to your post!
OK, here we go!
One dish I always prepare for Thanksgiving yet refuse to eat is : ___________
My own answer - Pumpkin Pie. I can't stand it. Even dredged in fresh whipped cream I just don't like it. It's a texture thing. Oh and cloves. I don't care for them at all. It never fails because I always end up with a piece of pumpkin pie in which someone used a very heavy hand with the cloves!
Thanksgiving would not be complete without this dish: _____________
My own answer - I actually have a couple. One is a salad that I first had when I spent my first Thanksgiving with my 1st ex-husband. His mom made this salad called, "5-in-1" salad. It has crushed pineapple, mandarin oranges, mini-marshmallows, and sour cream. It's lovely. Not at all healthy but it just doesn't seem like Thanksgiving to me without it. I am going to make it this year but will only indulge in a very small helping. The second item is Green Bean Casserole. Yep, the kind with crappy canned soup, and those yummy French's French Fried Onions. I don't make it any other time of year, and it's the only saving grace for a really dry turkey. Smother the turkey in the casserole and you don't notice how choking-ly dry the bird is!
What is one long-held Thanksgiving tradition you have?: ___________
My own answer - Growing up, we would usually go out to a Christmas tree farm in San Dimas, CA and cut down our own lush, green Christmas tree. I can remember, in the days before it was illegal to stick a kid in the back of a pickup truck without any safety restraints, being squished back there with the fragrant tree and both hating and loving my parents for putting me back there. There was never any end to the pine needles that would poke me during the drive home, which I hated, but I loved that wonderful, green smell of a freshly cut Douglas Fir!
Now that it's just Gareth, Gaby, and me at home, we usually spend the day baking, sorting out Christmas decorations, watching movies and being lazy - intentionally lazy during the long weekend. We're working on some new, unique traditions.
Do you have any special plans or will you be traveling this year for the Thanksgiving Holiday? ___________
My own answer - This year we are going to be spending Thanksgiving with Kim and her family. Personally, I was kind of dreading the holiday because it was just going to be the three of us, but I didn't say anything to anyone. We had thought about spending the weekend in Maine however Gaby has dance and cheer on the weekends and as she's coming up on her first cheer competition, practice is mandatory. Kim and her own family are starting some new traditions of their own and they lovingly included us in their Thanksgiving celebration this year. Her mom, Carol, will be there as well and I'm over the moon about that! Gaby adores "Grandma Carol", as she has no local grandparents, or really any local family. So it's doubly nice for her!
What is one thing you dread about Thanksgiving weekend, the official kick-off to the holiday season ?: ____________
My own answer - This is easy! Black Friday! I've done the Black Friday sales once in my life and that was enough. I ended up with a sprained wrist, a black and blue calf, and a really strong dislike of the madness associated with it. I think it brings out the worst in people, and that's ironic because when I was little, I always thought it would be fun to be a grocery-store cashier during the holiday season because people were always so merry and jolly. As an adult, I seem to have lost that innocent view of the people around me as being jolly and merry, and I get nervous when it comes to heading out to shop during the holidays.
People can be pushy, rude, dishonest, and just plain miserable! I understand that so many people are stressed with money woes during our rancid economy, however even those without any substantial money worries can be less than polite and often mean! I guess I'm pretty grateful for the ability to do a lot of my shopping online . . . and that's saying a lot because I enjoy the occasional treat of retail therapy, especially during the holidays. With people so grouchy lately? I think I'll just stay indoors, brew some hot cocoa and put on some Christmas music.
What do you do with all of those Thanksgiving left-overs?: ___________
My own answer - Usually we have re-runs on Friday afternoon/evening. There's always some turkey that gets saved for broth. I don't bother saving the leftover Green Bean Casserole because it's just not the same the next day! We usually always have a lot of salads left over which last a few days. Occasionally we make open-faced hot turkey and mashed potato sandwiches, covered in gravy on Saturday night. Of course, the cats have a few turkey treats too, as we couldn't leave them out of our celebration!
Name five things you are grateful for this Thanksgiving : ______________
My own answers -
1. My husband. He is the most loving, kind, patient and compassionate human being I know.
2. My children. Yes, there are estrangements, but I am so grateful that they are my children. Even through our difficulties I continue to be amazed at their ability to grow and learn.
3. My friends. There was a time, not too entirely long ago, that I thought I would be better off without people around me, because they often let me down if not downright tread all over me and hurt me. There was also a time when I thought the world would be better off without me. But were it not for my husband, my kids, and especially my friends - who reminded me that not all people are capable of the evilness that some possess - well, I'm not sure where I'd be. Possibly still living the life of a severe recluse, never experiencing the gift of love and acceptance that I've been blessed with from my friends. I can only hope that I'm there for them, the same way they are there for me.
4. This blog. Yes, I am grateful for this blog. It's kept me connected, even if at times that thread of connection has been as slight as a strand of hair, it's kept me connected to a world outside of myself and brought people into my life who have shared their own lives with me and in doing so, made me realize that I am not utterly alone.
5. A higher power/God/The Universe/a supreme being. I'm still muddling my way through my spiritual journey - trying to figure out what I believe and what I don't. I know deep in my soul that something is out there. I just simply am not sure what that "something" is. I do know and recognize that something is there guiding me. I'm grateful for whatever it is.
Now, it's your turn!
