I don’t like the traditional Thanksgiving meal.
Now, before you go and shoot me like a pilgrim chasing a wild turkey, let me tell you a story.
I was a little girl. We were at my mom’s parents’ house in Jacksonville, FL. Warm air. Green trees. Moss hanging on the oaks in their backyard. We usually passed the time playing Uno, watching football, and listening to the women chatter and stir in the kitchen. The house was always filled with energy, people, noise, and good cooking.
At some point we needed to make the annual Thanksgiving emergency grocery run. I guess we just HAD to have cranberry sauce or something unnecessary like that. I hopped in the car with my mom and her baby brother, and we were off. Pulling into the parking lot, I figured it’d be as good a time as any to confess that I don’t like all the food we have to eat every year.
Then, my mom, motivated by her most motherly of instincts, tells me that it’s absolutely unamerican to not eat the traditional Thanksgiving meal. She then reinforces this national value with claims that the police arrest any non-eaters. They patrol all the houses and lock up those who don’t eat this traditional meal. Immediately my mind began racing with vivid images of the cops coming around every year… Of their car parking in front of my grandma’s place. Of them coming in the house to find me obstinately refusing this sacred meal. This scared the living daylights out of me.
Obviously, she was kidding.
Obviously, I ate my belly-full with my on the front door.
Obviously, the cops never came.
Obviously, I’m hoping for spaghetti this year, but I have a feeling I’ll be eating turkey.
Obviously.
I don’t think your American mandy!
Hope you guys have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
i was accused of not being american b/c i haven’t seen any of the star wars or indianan jones movies…maybe they have a special citizenship just for us.
[and great metaphor, peanut butter!!!]
Hey! The pilgrims weren’t Italians – they were English!!
I agree with Papa.
I also would consider Cathi “unamerican” ; )
But, seriously, its just turkey. Maybe you should experience a Californian Tgiving – you know, beach, flipflops, enchiladas (kidding about the enchiladas, but you should see what we eat with the Philipino side of the family!!)
I spend my Thanksgivings wishing I could have turkey. My uncle prefers roast beef, so that’s what my aunt makes…as a result, my mom normally ends up cooking her own Thanksgiving meal so that we can all have turkey. It doesn’t happen every year, but most.
@ Sarah: I actually know people who have enchiladas!
The not eating turkey part is ok—but spaghetti?! I would at least go for lobster and scallops!!
At least you don’t have to make a meal that you aren’t wanting. It’s not that I don’t like Turkey, it’s just that we’ve gone from “no dinner” to “too much dinner”.
Maybe this year you could bring a ham… then skip the turkey?
Funny. My mom hates the traditional meal. I don’t have many early memories of a homemade meal.
The first chance I got, I made the works!
We’re all so different.
OMG!!! “shoot me like a pilgrim chasing a wild turkey”… at least you didn’t say anything else.
For the majority of my life, Thanksgiving meant more Chinese food.
Girl… come hang out with me!
Holy schinikes! That would cause some serious issues in my mind as a young girl.
I’ve often thought that I’d like to order a slew of pizza for Thanksgiving just for fun, but then I have to admit that I do like the stuffing with gravy and alsp, as Tam calls it, the “jiggle in a can.”
I love all of the Thanksgiving meal except for the turkey. The past few years my family has gotten this tiny, tiny turkey breast because none of us really like that part…but at this point we can’t completely leave it out of the meal!
We’re having Mexican food … including shrimp fajitas. Neither of my kids will do the turkey and dressing bit … so since it is just the four of us, why bother? I’m pumped to eat my chips and salsa tomorrow! Hope you get your spaghetti!
The holiday meals are more about tradition, which in the US Thanksgiving means Turkey dinner.
At my grandfathers home in Maine part of the tradition was him shooting his own wild turkey.
Of course when prepare your own Thanksgiving dinner you can start your own tradition.
If you want to go Italian you could have a turkey pizza to go with your spaghetti.
GIRL! Sounds like a serious therapy session is in order!
jk… That is hilarious though!! I on the other hand love Thanksgiving dinner! Love the turkey, love the mac and cheese, love the stuffing and LOVE the cream corn! I don’t even care about the dessert as long as their is my mom’s stuffing!
Maybe the problem is that you’re not eating the cranberry sauce. Seriously Mandy, it makes all the difference in the world. You have to chew it alone with a bit of turkey and a bit of dressing. The sun might shine brighter. Don’t tell my husband I said that. He will tell me I have a problem (again).
Dear Mom:
If I’m not here tomorrow for the turkey, it’s because my friends were nice enough to fly me to better food. Check Jenni’s house… Or I may be at the Wilhite’s place. It’s not that I don’t love you, it’s just that, well, if I’m gonna get arrested, I’d like to be in a crowd. You know, strength in numbers….
Love,
mandy
Hoping you get your wish and have reasons to be thankful FOR your Thanks-giving meal!
(Besides sharing it with those you love that is)
<B
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my tradition is to cook a serve a full italian meal before the traditional one. if you ever want to spend thanksgiving in africa, you just might get to eat only spaghetti after all.