First Responder
“I saw your blog request.  Let’s start with the living room transformation.  It’s the only way we’ll all fit.  I’ll try to take a picture with everyone sitting in the chairs.” La Rad
Thursday, November 23, 2006
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Looking forward to the livelier version — 13’s a lot!
Happy Day-after all! Can’t wait for leftovers … !
Comment by adam — November 24, 2006 @ 8:17 am
Some key aspects of my T’giving from preparation to actualizion: (1) Get Hilary to convince Lew to go to this year’s family occasion in Wayne, PA. (2) Buy the traditional salmon/pesto mousse-pate thing (the whole thing) the weekend before, and convince sister to bring the french bread from upstate NY. (3) Survive 12 parent-teacher conferences at school on Wed. morning. (4) Wed. night, make 3 lbs of creamed onions with chestnuts (traditional in my family, but I’ve never made it before. Peeling 1 lb of roasted chestnuts is a pain in the finger-tips. Still.) (5) Field calls from someone who wants a ride from Brookline to PA; get them to arrive in Acton at 6:45AM. (6) Leave at 6:55AM with mousse and onions, husband, daughter, and friend-of-friend needing ride. (7) Receive cell call from sister assuring that bread has been obtained, exchange notes on e.t.a. (8) Cross rt. 87 on the ramp from rt. 84 in NY state in the 3 second window when car is observable by sister and partner in car traveling full speed on rt. 87, below. Agree to exchange passengers at next rest stop. (9) With new configurations of passengers, continue to try to have appropriate conversations in front of guest, but argue over best route anyway. (10) Arrive in Wayne, PA, 6 hours after departure. (No traffic, best route, no rain should have made it 5 1/2 hours. We did quite well, considering.) (11) Make gravy with step-brother as usual in this configuration of family. (I always forget until I get there that the pair of us is counted on for this.) (12) Try to locate 8 gravy-boats because table for 22 people in traditional [small] dining room is X-shaped — 4 points for 6-8 people each should get 2 gravy-boats; for with giblets and without. (13) Eat the main course. Turkey, stuffing, vegetarian stuffing, vegetarian wild rice and mushrooms dish, roasted root vegetables, creamed onions and chestnuts, two cranberry sauce/relishes, two salads, brussels sprouts, ohmigod! there was no squash/sweetpotato until dessert. (14) Take a 25 minute drive to visit the home-in-progress for step-brother and family of 5-going-on-6. (15) Eat the 9 pies. Not 9 kinds of pies, but there were certainly 9. (16) Get back in the car for the 6 1/2 hour drive home–less traffic after 11PM, but worse driving conditions. Still not sure whether the GW bridge was a mistake or not. (17) Remember to tell Hilary that I may not WANT her to convince Lew to go next time. Last time T’giving was at this location was 6 years ago, and at the last minute Hilary and I went alone for health-related reasons into which I won’t go further on the blog. I think 6 years is the minimum amount of time to wait for the experience again. But then, EACH version of T’giving feels like one that shouldn’t be repeated any time soon … for unique reasons.
I didn’t try to get a photo. But the X-shaped table was interesting (to say the least) so I’ll see if there’s one I can get via e-mail.
Relationship map for guests available upon request.
Comment by Jennifer — November 24, 2006 @ 2:06 pm
Captivating chronicle that made me tired reading it, especially number 16. “Get back in the car for the 6 1/2 hour drive home–less traffic after 11PM, but worse driving conditions.” You couldn’t stay over night?
Comment by michael — November 24, 2006 @ 5:17 pm
But wasn’t (8) remarkable?
Comment by Jennifer — November 25, 2006 @ 10:07 am
Whew! I’m exhausted from just reading it. Distances between friends and family provide such complications.
For T’giving, 3 of the rakkitys went to our old friends the Kennys, bringing our old standbys, String Beans Grimelada, Chilean wine, and “Ed’s Bread”. The 7 Kennys provided the rest.
It may be our last Thanksgiving with them unless they or we cross the 2200-mi gulf between MD and CO. Our son & daughter-in-law went to NYC to have dinner with our new in-laws, and they promise to come out for Turkey in Boulder next year.
Comment by rakkity — November 25, 2006 @ 10:36 am
Yes, I am amazed.
I’d say if they live more than about twenty miles away they are neither friend or family.
Comment by michael — November 25, 2006 @ 12:18 pm
Dear Santa,
Forget Michael.
Love,
The 1500-Miles-Away Former Relative
Comment by ChoppedLiver — November 25, 2006 @ 6:58 pm
Maybe you are a “recurring” relative, CL (each time you come for a visit). I assume you’re a lot better than, say, a recurring nightmare or a recurring cough — but I’m not sure I’d go out of my way, if I were you.
Michael, it behooves you to comment thoughtfully.
Comment by Jennifer — November 25, 2006 @ 9:18 pm
He’s not “among the living”, Jennifer (see here’s One). Give the guy some slack.
Comment by rakkity — November 26, 2006 @ 2:50 pm
No problem for me. But CL is feeling like … chopped liver. Come to think of it, that may be better than
> I’ve been sick for a week now. I don’t get sick, but
> this is a doozy. Temps and stomach ache and little
> appetite. I’ve lost quite a few pounds already
> and my doctor is so far clueless. Virus X I guess.
> Now I’ve a sore throat and cough just to spice things
> up.
And the not-knowing makes it worse than the medical issue that divided our family up 6 years ago on Thanksgiving.
OK to cut him some slack, CL?
Comment by Jennifer — November 26, 2006 @ 4:36 pm