Thanksgiving traditions

In our home we sorta stray from the traditional Thanksgiving meal.  While I have cooked a turkey with the traditional side dishes, more often than not I have made things that are not commonly associated with Thanksgiving.  For our Thanksgiving meals we have made Chicken Picatta, Peppery Flank Steak, Chicken Curry, Rack of Lamb, etc.  You get the idea. 

This year, I will be making a beef tenderloin roast from a recipe that Deirdre found a few weeks ago.  It will just be the two of us for dinner, as we are going to sneak away for a few days to our cottage in Oscoda.  

Thanksgiving is a very American holiday.  It has resisted any real commercialization of the event because we are not celebrating a religious holiday or event.  Rather we are celebrating the good fortunes that have been bestowed upon us as a nation and a people. In no particular order, here are some of the things I will be thankful for this coming Thanksgiving Day:

1. I have a job I love with a great company.
2. Because of Item 1, I do not worry about tonight's dinner or if I am going to pay the next bill that arrives in my mailbox.
3. I am thankful for the people with whom I work.  They are a great group of engineers whose strengths cover my weaknesses.
4. Because of Item 3, we laugh a lot at work.  I am thankful for that.
5. I am in excellent health.  I have no chronic or acute health issues.
6. I am thankful for the U.S. Constitution, and for its first 10 amendments.  I am especially thankful for Amendments 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10.
7. I am thankful for my career in the Navy.  I served for 22 years, went to war a couple of times, but I did not experience a physical or mental scratch during my career.
8. I am married to a wonderful person who appreciates me for who I am.  We are a great team.
9. I am owned by a German Shepherd Dog who we rescued five years ago this week.  He was scared and skittish when we brought him home.  Now, he is an obedient, lovable, goofy dog who is essentially a 100lb Yorkie.
10. I am thankful, each November, for Beaujolais Nouveau.
11. I am thankful for my neighbors.  I could not have asked for better people to be my neighbors.
12. I am thankful for single malt scotch.
13. I am thankful for technology.  I am able to keep in touch with friends who literally live on the other side of the planet.

This is what I am thankful for today.  What are you thankful for today?

Thanksgiving

Tomorrow, we will celebrate a thoroughly American holiday: Thanksgiving. Unlike some other American holidays, this celebration of all that we are thankful for has thoroughly resisted being commercialized. To give you an example, I saw the first Christmas decorations for sale at Lowe's and Home Depot a few days before Halloween. Thanksgiving is not tied to any religion in particular, nor are we expected to exchange presents, or send cards. It is a holiday to remind us about everything that is good in this great country, as well as the be thankful for the blessings we have living in America. This past year was one of tremendous transition for me. I retired from the Navy, took a few months off and then after just a few weeks of non-dedicated job hunting, was hired by one of the best managed, best run and most profitable companies the world has ever known. Deirdre and I were also able to take a "throw away" dog who faced certain death in a kennel and make a place in our home for him. Yes, Dee and I have much for which we are thankful this year. From here, just East of the Equator where is it always a quarter past five, I want to wish everyone who reads this text a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

THANKSGIVING

Deirdre and I are just a few days away from celebrating our twentieth Thanksgiving since we were married in 1987. However, due to the nature of my former job, we were not always able to spend the holiday together. The other day Dee and I sat down and looked back at each Thanksgiving holiday to see where we were and more importantly if we were together. Here are the stats:

19 total Thanksgiving Holidays
9 Thanksgiving Holiday spent together
10 Thanksgiving Holidays spent apart

So, of the 10 holidays spent apart, I was either deployed, had duty aboard ship or was not living anywhere near Deirdre. To put it in other terms, if I were a forward on a hockey team, my plus/minus rating would be minus 1. This is one of the reasons Dee and I are not going anywhere for Thanksgiving. We are spending here in EGR, together and quite possibly alone. Dee's goal is to spend as much time as possible this coming Thursday in her jammies, which I think I will be able to support.

As many of you know, Dee is not much of a cook. The responsibility for our Thanksgiving meal falls squarely on my shoulders, but I think I am up to the task. The past two years, we spent the holiday at our home aboard Naval Station Great Lakes, and we had what could be called "non-traditional" meals. Last year, I made Apple Curried Chicken Cous Cous, and the year before last I made Peppery Flank Steak. Well, this year Dee had dictated the following for our Thanksgiving meal:

Here is what I would like and I am MORE than willing to help. This is the one day of the year that I enjoy cooking.
Turkey Stuffing (home made - NO onions or celery - I will make this)
Cranberry sauce
Green bean casserole ( I will make a small dish)
Decent white wine
Your apple pie for dessert.

Looks like we are going to be a little more traditional this year!