1. What did you do for Thanksgiving when you were a kid?
A: I remember many construction paper turkeys colored in elementary school...
I remember sitting at the kids table until the magical year I was invited to the adult table, with the pretty dishes, and lots of interesting adult talk. I knew the quieter I was the more I could hear. I used to adore the spiced peaches we had on the table only at Thanksgiving.
2 .What’s your favorite family tradition?
A: years ago it was a card game that we'd play each time we got together.
3. What’s your favorite way to give back and help others?
A: I try to do small unexpected favors, hold open a door, let other cars into my lane, little things that might make the world spin smoother. One night we were dawdling after dinner in Little Italy Baltimore, walking back to the car and saw a woman struggling with groceries into her house. We stopped and asked if we might help, she gladly accepted this small kindness from strangers. We all felt connected.
It is my belief that we can all give back, or pay if forward and that helps all of us.
I have the most trouble with injustice and intolerance. We donate money to agencies that work against that.
4. Name one person who can make you laugh, even months later. Why?
A:
5. What is the funniest thing you remember about a Thanksgiving past?
A:
6. Do you have any unusual traditions, rituals or habits around Thanksgiving?
A: no
7. What time do you eat your Thanksgiving meal?
A: no certain time but when it's just we three, late afternoon
8. Name one ancestor that you think about on Thanksgiving and tell us why.
A: my birth parents.. I wish I could find them
9. Is there a family heirloom at the Thanksgiving table? What its story?
A: growing up we always used the Desert Rose dishware that I loved. We had a lot of it with special pieces that came out twice a year. I was supposed to inherit that but didn't get it. I'd love to one day finally have a set of it.
10. What is your favorite part about Thanksgiving Day?
A: I really like the Macy's parade on tv.... I used to love having lots of people over for dinner. In Annapolis we would walk around old town after dark, when it was quiet and sparkly. I like that it starts the Christmas season, the tree goes up, pretty decorations go out, and movies started being shown on tv.
I love that no matter what your religious beliefs you can celebrate thanksgiving by remembering what you're grateful for.
11. What is something that was done for you this year that makes you grateful this Thanksgiving?
A: dh worked hard to find a job in the company he could do remotely to lower our risks. I was given the gift of friendship by a lovely woman who meets with me every week on zoom, it made me feel connected. I am thankful for each friend who sees me with grace, loving me even if I'm fearful, and laughing with me at life.
12. What foods do you usually have for Thanksgiving?
I always make a zucchini casserole with parm cheese, we have ambrosia made with navel orange sections, red grapefruit sections, fresh pineapple, coconut, bananas and cherries. I make cranberry sauce with orange peel, raspberry vinegar and cinnamon sticks every year (old recipe from Martha Stewart) sweet potatoes roasted to caramelize them mixed with maple syrup and pecan pie (no corn syrup I use maple syrup in it) of course turkey, dressing (stuffing made outside the bird) and mashed potatoes. No turkey this year as whole foods is out of frozen breasts and they deliver food thawed all the time so we don't trust them with fresh poultry.
13. How has the celebration of Thanksgiving today changed from when you were little?
A: it seems like it has become about shopping. It was the visiting holiday when I was little... the time when all the family gathered, with friends too, to sit around a table of plenty and talk into the evening, telling stories we knew but enjoyed anyway. Then we could watch the Wizard of Oz on once a year
14. If you could share Thanksgiving dinner today with one person in history who would it be? Why? (Note: it can be a relative)
A: John Adams.. I'd love to know what he wanted for our country, and what he thinks of the current situation of power imbalance, and where one man has sown the seeds of distrust dividing the nation.
15. What is one wish you have for the next generation as they begin to establish their own Thanksgiving traditions
A: you create the meaning of holidays.... you make it special and you set the traditions
start now including others not just family, in your celebrations. There are so many people like us with no family or place to belong, and we would love to be invited (not during the quarantine year sadly) to share a time of belonging with others.
come see the others answering these questions at SundayStealing and I'd love to hear one of your stories or traditions too!!!
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