Thanksgiving Thoughts

 Can you have a food blog and not post something on Thanksgiving? I don't think so. Thanksgiving has always been an interesting time for me. As with many people, your traditions grow and change as you grow older. Where your at each Thanksgiving and who you are with also changes. 

As I sat down to write this I tried to remember what my first Thanksgiving memory was, it actually has nothing to do with Thanksgiving at all. I grew up in a double house. My family and I lived on one side, and my grandmother lived on the other side. Above the two sides of the house was a third floor apartment. We had family over one year, we may have had them more than that year, I can't remember, but I remember it was the evening, already dark and most of the family must have gone, or settled in that may have been staying. I remember going over to my side of the house and seeing my mom having Christmas decorations already going up. I was so excited! The one thing I remember was a small village should would always set up on the buffet in the dining room. I loved to look at all the little houses. My dad would put white lights down, then cotton over top obviously making the village pretty magical in the eyes of a small kid. 

The next phase of Thanksgiving memories for me were spent at my mom's cousins farm. I loved these Thanksgivings! It was like a small family reunion every November. We could go see the cows, have turkey, and I got to play and explore the farm with my cousins. Every year sometime after we ate, we would go across the road to a large field, and a good portion of the family would shoot clay pigeons. I was still pretty young so my dad would set up a single clay pigeon on a fence post, and I would do my best to take it down with my pellet rifle. I don't know maybe this is where my early love of A Christmas Story started!

That lasted a few years and then we would come back to having simple Thanksgiving meals at the house with just my immediate family. No one hates this. Sweatpants, lounging, not having to get ready for company. There are perks to this for sure. However I did work my way into food. I worked for a hospitality company that I spent my time mainly between our downtown hotel and a conference center we managed. Obviously this was a big shift. I go from being with my families to serving other people's families. I have to say apart from not being with my family, I loved taking care of other people's family. What an honor that they choose the place you work to have their meal with their family for the holiday. It's a big responsibility, but man is it fun. Once you start, you don't stop. It's the fastest 4-5 hours of your life working a holiday buffet. It's a blur for sure of frantically refilling chaffing dishes, wishing people a Happy Thanksgiving, and making sure they aren't wanting for a thing. I worked in hospitality a long time and I truly have a passion for serving others. Some people struggle their whole lives to find what it is they truly like to do. I'm not sure in what facet of food I will be in for the rest of my career, but I know two things. First, I love feeding people. It is the most amazing feeling when you can make someone's day with food. Second, is that I will always be in some form of service of food. More on that in a bit. 

The Leftover Plate

It's important at this time to mention my favorite part of working those holiday buffets. Sure I tried the food with the Chef's to make sure it was ready to go, but I never really ate most of the day. My former wife, and her mom would always make sure I had a FULLY LOADED plate every year to come home to. Let me tell you what, after working a long day and running around like I would for those buffets, those leftover plates hit different. I would get that thing in the microwave as quick as possible, untuck the dress shirt and lose the socks. By the time that was done it was time to crush that plate. If you think a Thanksgiving meal tastes amazing when everything is first ready. Serve a few hundred people, looking at that Thanksgiving food all day, and then go eat it. Trust me it hits different. Will always be thankful for those plates. 

Not too long ago I had switched to working in healthcare mainly. I primarily work in and with long term care facilities now. I had a few years where I got to go back to those youthful years and have what would be considered the normal Thanksgiving. My life has changed pretty significantly in 2024. This year I started my Thanksgiving in a hotel room in central PA. That is where I am writing this blog. I'll help three different facilities make sure their residents get the best Thanksgiving meal that we can provide.

This goes back to the service thing right? I won't do this forever, but while I'm doing it I couldn't imagine not feeding people especially on Thanksgiving. Working in long term care, it's a bit different. The hospitality still needs to be there, but obviously this is a little deeper. It also takes a whole team of individuals to make sure the residents get served. While my role isn't primarily on the floor anymore, it is making sure we have coverage, the food was ordered and is in, helping with any issues that might arise last minute, and believe me, they always do!

Every year or every few years Thanksgiving and it's traditions have changed for me. Trust me I am big on tradition, you can ask my mother about Christmas Eve! However, this year I truly reflected on Thanksgiving. What I learned is a lot, and it taught me a lot. While each Thanksgiving has been different I have learned so much about being thankful this year. I have gotten to enjoy my family over the years, serve others their holiday meal for a long time, and now making sure resident's get the best, because they deserve that. 

Much like the seasons each year, there are seasons of our lives. I think the challenge is looking at those seasons and being thankful and learning from them. The one constant for me has always been food and it's a big reason why I started this blog. 

There will be something today you can be thankful for. There is some core memory you can form today. Maybe your Thanksgiving will not look like this next year or maybe you are hoping that it does. My hope for you today is that you live in the moment of this Thanksgiving and enjoy it and let it be a memory you have for years to come. 

For me I know my daughters will be with their mom and so excited to be at their Mammy & Pap's house with their aunt, uncle, and two cousins. They are good little eaters to so I have no doubt that they will have nice full bellies. This was from last year, Salem had no issues with the traditions of a big meal, and then a big nap!

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone and I hope you will find a multitude of things you and your heart will be thankful for.