These traditions changed when I got older, when my brother and sister were in college, and my dad started working on Thanksgiving. I was in marching band and spent the morning eating donuts with the band, playing Louie Louie in the stands (I loved being drum major senior year and getting to conduct and dance with the crowd!), catching up with alumni, and trying not to lose my fingers to frostbite. We'd have a quiet day, sometimes with pizza or Chinese food, and then have our big family dinner on Saturday when everyone was home.
Now that all of us kids are moved out, it's hard to say what the traditions are. My sister and her husband alternate years at my parents' house and his parents' house for Thanksgiving and Christmas. My brother and sister-in-law usually make it to both in-laws houses for either dinner or dessert. During college, I would have Thanksgiving dinner at Sean's parents' house (usually my mom and brother would come too), and then eat Thanksgiving again that Saturday with my family. I guess we're lucky that we're laid back and even if we can't get together on the spiecific day, the effort is there to get home and spend time together - and eat!
What are some of your Thanksgiving traditions? Do you watch football while dozing in a comatose state all afternoon? Does an aunt always bring a dish that no one really likes? Do you order out for pizza? I'd love to hear what warms your heart this time of year!
The first turkey I ever cooked all by myself, Thanksgiving 2006 at Sean's.
