Since Thanksgiving is approaching this week, I have been recalling Thanksgiving from my childhood. When I was in elementary school prior to Thanksgiving we always read many stories about the Pilgrims and Indians and the first Thanksgiving. We colored pictures of turkeys, large tables filled with food and other things. We learned how they were so thankful for what they had and the hard work it took to grow their food and to harvest it. I remember getting so excited and could hardly wait for Thanksgiving to arrive. There was a hint of sadness at times as other classmates shared stories of their Thanksgiving Turkey. In my early years we did not have turkey, instead we usually had chicken because mama would go to Rocky Ford Hatchery in Lincolnton and buy their culls, the smaller dibbies that did not pass their test for survival. She would bring them home, keep them warm and care for them until they were old enough to go outside. They survived and grew into frying chickens and later into hens for stewing to make dumplings and good white gravy for Sunday lunches. We usually had hens for Thanksgiving and I always wished we could have turkey so our table would look like the pictures we colored with the turkey being the centerpiece with all the delicious dishes surrounding it. Also, I remember the classmates talking about Pumpkin Pie..well we did not grow pumpkins on our farm so we had Sweet Potato Pie and it was delicious. Mama was a very good cook and anything she made with her hands of love turned out great! Some years later we did have TURKEY for Thanksgiving because my oldest brother, Anse, bought one and brought it to mama to prepare, someone also brought pumpkins and we had PUMPKIN PIE and I thought finally we were able to celebrate Thanksgiving in the same way my classmates did.
Thanksgiving morning mama would be up early to begin the preparations and then the family would start arriving. The gentlemen would get their hunting gear and the dogs ready and strike out for their hunting experience. The ladies would help with the preparation of the big meal. The children would hunt some adventure to go on like playing in the barn loft, sliding down the big red dirt hill and if you were not careful you could land in the creek. We could hardly wait for the hunters to return so we could enjoy the bountiful meal that had been prepared. We also knew there may be a game of softball or some horseback or buggy rides to enjoy afterwards. As a family we had so much to be thankful for, we may not have realized it then but looking back now brings many fond memories and tears of joy.
Another wish I had as a child came from the poem we always read during the Thanksgiving Season which started out as "Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go, the horse knows the way to lead the sleigh through the white and drifted snow". I would wish I could go to my grandmother's house. My mama's mother passed away several years before I was born and my dad's mom passed when I was only six years old so I really did not get to know her very well because she was sick a lot before passing. I remember how excited mama got when she saw her grandchildren arriving and the way she would greet them and always have something special for them; Lemon pies, hot biscuits filled with good things and her special cucumber pickles. Daddy was proud of his grandchildren and would show it by getting the little ones on his lap and pulling out his pocket watch for them to listen to and "doodling" them, a special song he sang as he "rocked" them. It blesses my heart now when our family gets together and the grandchildren recall their memories of going to "Grandma and Grandpa's house". God has blessed our family in special ways and I am thankful for that this Thanksgiving Season.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!
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