I love this painting, a depiction of the First Thanksgiving in America by a famous artist. That was then.
This is Thanksgving, circa 1942. Everyone dressed up, sitting around a beautiful, well-appointed table.
Twenty-first Century--football on Thanksgiving Day. This is a University of Texas football player, holding a Longhorn banner (actually this is from their win at the Rose Bowl.)
This is now. Since all our family live too far away, we celebrate in our own way, by ourselves, and thoroughly enjoy our day. First, we go to the movies. This year, we'll see The Blind Side. (It's about football.)
After the movie, we'll go to Johnny Carino's and have Italian Nachos. No turkey for us.
And last, the grand finale: University of Texas plays its arch rival, Texas A&M, in Austin, Texas in Memorial Stadium. It's a night game, so we watch it on television. Perfect ending to a great day.
We're thankful for all we have.
Remember our military men and women and their families.
Remember all other service and medical personnel who work on Thanksgiving Day.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!
Celia Yeary
How things change! But the basic sentiments stay the same, don't they? I hope you and all my dear friends across the pond have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day, however you celebrate! I'll be thinking of you. :)
ReplyDeleteJane x
Thank you, Jane--You're such a lovely lady--love you--Celia
ReplyDeleteLove those Italian nachos, Celia. Yes, Thanksgiving has certainly changed. For our parents, it just wasn't Thanksgiving unless they prepared a big lunch and we all showed up. Now we're the older generation. This year we'll probably be going to Luby's or some other restuarant as our daughter's apartment is too small for a big meal.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Celia!
ReplyDeleteYou'll love The Blind Side! It was fabulous.
Have a happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks so much Celia for sharing this with me. Usually, we spend the day at my cousins eating a MASSIVE meal with all the classics: Turkey, stuffing etc. and we just hang out and talk. Football dominates the tube of course. Its a great day! This year, we are waiting until Sunday because my cousin is in Africa and not coming home til Saturday.
ReplyDeleteAgain, thanks for sharing. I am now following you on here. Feel free to follow me back. http://www.peerabuse.blogspot.com
Take Care,
Elizabeth
CELIA!!!!
ReplyDeleteLoved the post. We are doing the "FESTIVE FIESTA FAJITAS" from down the street at our favorite Mexican restaurant. Feeds 10 people for $60, and you get everything, and I do mean everything, including chips and all the fixin's for fajitas, with beans, rice, and relish. It's wonderful and we will eat off of that all weekend. I never get tires of it. Jessica will be in LA, her own tradition for the past couple of years, and Casey will be (maybe) with the girlfriend and her family. I plan on getting some GREAT writing time while football is on! Happy Thanksgiving, my friend!
Love, Cheryl
I can't wait to see The Blind Side! Your day sounds great, Celia. So nice an relaxing--I'm almost jealous. LOL We'll be doing the traditional turkey and all the fixin's (minus stuffing and cranberries--never had them as a kid and still don't like them).
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving everyone!
We have multiple Thanksgivings. On Thursday, we'll see my husband's family for the traditional meal of turkey, ham, and roast beef with stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a few other sides as well as three different desserts. Then, on Friday or Saturday, my husband will cook a duck with greens and mushrooms for us. Yummy!
ReplyDeleteWow, Texas sounds like a blast! We don't have family close by so unless we get out-of-town guests, we tend to have our own private celebration.
ReplyDeleteThis year we're taking an early holiday vacation so to avoid the cooking, clean-up, and leftovers that would spoil, we're opting for a lovely dinner out at a local gourmet restaurant. I can't wait!
Wishing you a lovely Thanksgiving, Celia! Happy to know you!
--Chiron O'Keefe
Weekly Motivation for Writers at The Write Soul: www.chironokeefe.blogspot.com
How ever you celebrate Thanksgiving I hope you have a good one.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving, Celia and all!
ReplyDeleteLINDA--it's interesting how eeverything on TV about Thanksgiving is how to prepare a turkey. I haven't prepared or eaten turkey for 20 years. Oh, that's very telling, isn't it? Have a happy day--Celia
ReplyDeleteSARAH--thanks for the good movie review! Anything with Sandra Bullock pleases both my husband and me. Happy TD! Celia
ReplyDeleteELIZABETH--thank you for commenting and sharing your blog site. I found it last night but didn't have much time to read. I have it on a list for today. Happy TD! Your family gathering sounds wonderful. Celia
ReplyDeleteCHERYL--if I were to meet you in person, TD would be the day! I love Mexican food, and honestly, could eat some form of it every day. I buy pickled jalapenos by the gallon! Have a wonderful day--Celia
ReplyDeleteSTACY--hope you enjoy your TD--Turkey Day--it sounds like a scene from a Norman Rockwell painting. But how can you not like stuffing and cranberry sauce? Celia
ReplyDeleteEMMA--good grief!!! I never heard of so much food! My husband would be in heaven, having so much to choose from. Better watch out--he might show up on your doorstep. Have a great day--1st TD for Baby Iain. You have much to be thankful for. Celia
ReplyDeleteCHIRON--We like to take little trips around Christmas--stay home on Thanksgiving. Your TD sounds perfectly lovely--the gourmet restaurant--I would love that. Celia
ReplyDeleteELAINE AND LIANA--Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families. Celia
ReplyDeleteCelia, I'm anxious to see The Blind Side! It looks incredible.
ReplyDeleteHave a great Thanksgiving!
Celia,
ReplyDeleteIt's all about family and celebrating with family. Enjoy your time together. That's what it's all about. That's the pilgrims and the indians did.
Smiles
Steph
LORAINE--I can't wait to see the movie--we love Sandra Bullock--She's a Texas girl, so she knows football.but I think the movie does have a good message--Happy TD day. Celia
ReplyDeleteSTEPH--yes, you're right. It's all about being with the people you love.Have a wonderful day--Celia
ReplyDeleteSounds good to me. I'm going to eat smoked turkey (NOT the ones that come to my yard) and read books. Happy Turkey Day!
ReplyDeleteLINDA--Now, smoked turkey is the best.There're are many bar-be-cue places around her, and they'll smoke your turkey for you. If I still cooked like that, I'd have one prepared that way. Definitely. Just think--no pans to scrub. Enjoy yourself and your books! Celia
ReplyDeleteGreat way to celebrate the day, Celia. For years, I lived too far away to make it to my parents for the big family dinner, so I always hosted the "orphans" dinner. Friends who couldn't get home showed up with a dish of their choice. I've had some very free-wheeling T-day dinners. May favorite, though, was when a friend of a friend (who was a wine salesman) came to dinner.
ReplyDeleteGreat way to celebrate the day, Celia. For years, I lived too far away to make it to my parents for the big family dinner, so I always hosted the "orphans" dinner. Friends who couldn't get home showed up with a dish of their choice. I've had some very free-wheeling T-day dinners. May favorite, though, was when a friend of a friend (who was a wine salesman) came to dinner.
ReplyDeleteKEENA--you should write a story titled "Guess Who Came to dinner With the Wine." Yes, me, too--family too far away. I like the idea of your "orphans" dinner. Celia
ReplyDeleteFor years I celebrated Thnksgiving at my house with children, mother, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws and a few friends without families, about forty people. My husband took care of the turkey. I cooked Mediterranean food,Italian cannelonne stuffed with meat, stuffed grape leaves, Greek spanakoupida (triangles that looked like baklawa but stuffed with spinach and feta cheese),kobei (a mix of craked wheat and ground meat). Each of these took at least three hours of preparation and cooking but it was done with so much love. Now we celebrate a traditional Thanksgiving at my son's with mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, asparagus around the turkey.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving to all of you.
MONA--I'd take your original meal. I recognized the dishes, too. Your holiday sounds wonderful with your family--have a great time. And thanks for stopping by--Celia
ReplyDelete