Everywhere I look this week, I see a lot of turkeys! Some are people. Some are birds. I am also reminded of a lot of traditions. After all, Thanksgiving is a holiday of traditions. Some traditions unite. Some traditions divide. It is almost like politics. One of the most divisive traditions in our family is who carves the turkey.
Who carves the turkey?
When I was young, for Thanksgiving we always made the trek through the mountains of northern Utah to the small Wyoming coal-mining town that was my mom’s hometown. My uncle Bill, who ran the local Safeway store, began his food career as a butcher. He cut the turkey. No question. He was a professional turkey carver.
After I was married, wherever in the western United States we lived, we usually made the trek to my wife’s hometown in northern Utah for Thanksgiving. My wife’s grandfather had been a chef. His son, my father-in-law, continued the tradition. He cut the turkey. No question. He was a professional turkey carver.
As time evolved and Keith no longer hosted the family Thanksgiving dinner and my wife had transferred to the great Thanksgiving in the sky, my daughter Marci took over. She’s the oldest and a bit bossy. It’s an oldest child thing. She cut the turkey. No question. She’s not a professional turkey carver but she pretends she is one.
And now, as circumstances have worked out, I have begun hosting holiday dinners again after all these years. First time for everything. Last year, The Red Head I Live With chose Thanksgiving as the day to return from a family Thanksgiving in with her family in Arkansas. She wouldn’t be home in time to cook the turkey. So, guess who cooked the turkey. I did. Turned out great. Who knew that cooking a turkey and following a blueprint had a lot in common? But, I DID NOT CARVE THE TURKEY! I won’t. You can’t make be carve a turkey. I’d rather go to McDonald’s for a grilled chicken sandwich than carve a turkey!
Other great Thanksgiving traditions
On the other hand, we have some great traditions:
- Black Olives: Great tradition, but we don’t have little ones to distribute 10 olives anymore, one to each of their tiny digits. I think a young ‘un in our family can eat his or her weight in olives on Thanksgiving.
- Deviled Eggs: Another great tradition, we just don’t consume as many as we used to. Must be an age thing.
- Green Bean Casserole: Another one of my favorites. Even green beans taste good on Thanksgiving.
- Frog Eye Salad: I don’t know what it is. I don’t know how it’s made. I just like it. If you know how to make it, please let me know. My sister Alice always used to make Frog Eye Salad
- Fruit Cocktail Salad: I’ve always liked this one. Whip whipped cream in a large mixing bowl. Fold in the fruit of your choice. If you are poor, plain old canned fruit cocktail works. If you are rich (or at least think you are) fresh fruit is better. Simple. Scrumptious.
Some traditions just wear out
There is one tradition that has expired, at least for me. It’s Thanksgiving football. I don’t watch it. Who cares? Professional football has reached saturation in my brain. Besides, I follow the Denver Broncos. They have cured me of being a football fan. On the other hand, I would love to have my alma mater Utah and their arch-rival BYU meet every year on Thanksgiving like they used to do when I was in college. Now, that would be a tradition worth keeping!
So, be careful with your traditions. Don’t ever let anyone paint you into a corner! …and never, ever, ever agree to carve the turkey. It will be your task for life whether you want it or not.
At least that’s the way I see it! Until next time...
Richard Elliott
The Senior Observer
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