Thursday, November 24, 2016

Thanksgiving(s)

Thanksgiving 2016 may be one we always remember, mainly because of what it was not. Unlike the Thanksgiving Days we have grown accustomed to and enjoyed over the years, we stayed home. That was not the plan, of course, but life happens. Dad Mateske is laid up, and had Jeff, Andrea and the boys not stopped by for a quick visit, it would have been just us. We didn’t even have a turkey in the freezer, so it’s the Thanksgiving chicken this year! A nice, fresh, warm apple crisp took the place of the lime dessert which the Pilgrims introduced to this country ... oh wait, that's right, they didn't have Milnot back then, so we will give credit to my Mom.

Of course, being me, I got to thinking and conjured up the Ghost of Thanksgiving Past. Funny thing is that I don’t have many Thanksgiving Day pictures, and the ones I have aren’t of very good quality. There’s this one – which is all I could find today.

Gramma Dolan, David, Aunt Estella, Grampa Dolan, Uncle Ernie, ?, ? or Daddy, Mary, Mom, Me, Cousin Kathy
 

If you were to ask me about my earliest memories of Thanksgiving, this would be it. Getting together at the home of my Uncle Ernie and Aunt Estella on Eschol Avenue in Zion. They weren’t big gatherings, just the Harry Dolans, the Ernie Dolans, and Grampa/Gramma Dolan. Except in this picture, there is someone else at the far end of the table. The quality of the photo is so bad, that I can’t tell who it was. And I don’t recall.

What you can see is that my Aunt Estella was a classy lady who set a lovely table – even a table with kids who likely didn’t notice or appreciate it much (aka me). I remember very well the turkey in the oven in the small kitchen from where this photo was taken. My memory says that it was always a huge bird. It probably wasn’t, but that’s what I remember. But the best part was after the meal. We got to go into the basement to play, and in the basement there was a ping pong table. I thought that was the cat’s meow!

Yeah, I know, it doesn’t sound like much, and it was a pretty basic Thanksgiving. But it was good, and I’m glad to have the memory.

It’s a funny thing though. I don’t remember how many times we actually did this. I don’t remember thanksgivings at home at 1904 Elim. I don’t remember thanksgivings in Kenosha with Mom’s side of the family. It’s only the Ernie/Estella thanksgiving that I remember in Zion. The reality is that is was probably only a few occasions, but I guess it doesn’t matter. In my mind, that was thanksgiving growing up. (There was the one year we out to to eat at a restaurant. Don’t know why, but that was a big dud!! It was in Kenosha, just past the Keno Drive-in, on the west side of Sheridan Road.) Never did that again.

We’ve had any number of good turkey days in a variety of places over the years. Like the one pictured below in Palos Heights in 1978. It’s not a good photo either, but it was handy and it’s all I could find today. Yeah, I know, everyone looks so glum, and Carol looks pretty uncomfortable with Amy under her maternity top, but I love little Sarah smooching up cousin Paul.  That was a good day too. And there were other good days – all with a story or two to go along with it. What stories do you remember?? (This is where you are suppose to respond and tell me!!!)

I am sure I have forgotten some but whether in Zion, Wilmot, Palos, Fond du Lac, Watertown, add Montello last year, and now Crivitz, although someone else will have to tell that story (unless what happens in Crivitz stays in Crivitz), but "we done good", huh!? 


God has been good, and his mercy does endure forever!



8 comments:

  1. Haha the second picture is hilarious! So many people on one couch!! And mom looks miserable....

    ReplyDelete
  2. The picture at Uncle Ernies. Do you think it might be the next door neighbors?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Do remember driving to Michigan in the snow. Not sure if that was for Thanksgiving. My first turkey dinner was with Mom & Dad in Lake Villa. Went to church came home there was smoke floating in the air. Needless to say the turkey was well done.Daddy did help us find a few good pieces of turkey left to eat.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love little Sarah smooching up cousin Paul too!

    Memorable thanksgivings for me took place at Uncle Dave's house in Fond du Lac (I once got to ride in the car with Johannah as a new driver- she was such a cool, older cousin) and Aunt Mary's in Wilmot. Grandpa in the kitchen. Lime dessert, of course. And the Thanksgiving in Racine, where I cooked and started a fire on the stove is also pretty memorable. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The sound of that cane "clicking" on the floor as it made its way into the kitchen is not easy to get out of the head.

      Delete
    2. So great!!! The panic sets in with the sound of the cane....

      Delete
  5. Who took the picture and sat at this end of the table?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If that'not my Dad at the far end of the table, then he took it. If that is him in the back, then I don't know.

      Delete