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Home for Thanksgiving

November 20, 2006|Betty Ratliff Smith

Thanksgiving is just a few days away, and with it comes not only bittersweet memories, but also the opportunity for new memories to be made.

As we were growing up, we soon learned that Thanksgiving was a very special time at our home. It was the time when all the family was expected to be at the home of our parents. And as our relationships grew serious and marriages were eminent, the young men and women who soon would be part of our family learned where they were to be for Thanksgiving dinner. That was the only holiday that we all were expected to be at "home." And we were.

Thanksgiving was an anticipated time at our home. This was when the crystal and china were washed, the silver was at a high polish and the linens were washed and ironed until not a wrinkle showed.

We always had several tables prepared, so no one had to wait for the "second table." My Dad always said he and his brothers and sisters would nearly starve to death while peeking through the door waiting for their dad and uncles to leave the table. He described how they would eat and then rear back in their chairs, smoking or picking their teeth. He laughed as he told us how he thought they would never leave the table.

That didn't happen at our house. The children had their own tables and were served with the adults. Of course as we girls got older, we helped serve and my two older sisters-in-law were great dishwashers.

Two days before, the country ham, cured by my dad, would be brought in to soak overnight and then be cooked by my mother, always 20 minutes to the pound. Then Dad would remove it from the oven and remove the top skin, leave a bit of fat, which Mother scored and sprinkled with a mixture of cornmeal, brown sugar and ground cloves. Then several whole cloves would be placed in various places on top of the ham. Dad could slice it newspaper thin.

Usually the turkey was cooked the afternoon before, and the cornbread for dressing would be made. Mother made sage dressing, and I cannot match it, as much as I have tried.

We always had whole cranberries and then the traditional meal, including scalloped oysters, mashed potatoes, green beans, sweet potatoes, hot rolls, dressing and numerous other dishes. Then came the pies, apple, pumpkin, transparent and mince.

After the meal some took naps, some played games, in later years some watched ball games, and some just visited.

It didn't matter what we did, we were together, and little did we know how quickly our family circle could change.

Last year I still was recovering from my broken neck, and my Ohio sister Wanda told me most of the family came to my house, although the combination of pain and medication made my memory fuzzy to the point that I don't remember that Thanksgiving. And I regret that because that was the last Thanksgiving we had with Molly. But Wanda said we still fixed plates to take out to friends, a tradition long practiced in our family.

However, because of my parents, we had many memorable Thanksgivings, and those memories will be a part of this year's observance as family members continue to make new memories to keep with the old.

Happy Thanksgiving.

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