Thanksgiving at DeNanda’s

Greetings to our gracious host – and all the folks at the Kaffeehaus!

At the suggestion of our Hypatia, I’m writing to share my Wednesday evening “anticipated” Thanksgiving dinner. As has been the case for the past few years, my meal has been catered by my brother and sister-in-law, while my niece and great-nephew add sweetness and
sparkle to the conversation that has little to do with the beverage that has a prominent place on the drop-leaf table. (Young’un likes to eat from his Mom’s plate, so we set for the four adults.) The ceramic tom turkey that has pride of place is a decades’-old find of Mom P.’s – the stories it could tell. The autumnal table settings (note the “bamboo” detailing, favored by pandas) and elegant placemats were also part of her efforts to make this house into a home in ways I’d not had before moving up “To the Right of Nowhere”: She succeeded.

Now, for the menu…My beloved brother – the other left-hander in the family – decided to try his hand at a stuffed turkey breast and his signature “from scratch” mashed potatoes and gravy, and of course, homegrown butternut squash with butter, black pepper and a touch of nutmeg. My sister-in-law’s signature broccoli casserole, and scratch pumpkin pie (with cinnamon for others; ginger and nutmeg for yours truly), and Reddi-Whip for memories. Oh, and I mustn’t forget the canned, jellied cranberries that were Thanksgiving during my childhood.

Conversation covered present travel plans, hug requests, and memories of my Dad and the aforementioned brother coming in from hunting season to our maternal Gram’s lacy tablecloth/napkins, and china that got used 3 times a year. Bittersweet – but more sweet than bitter. ¡Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias, hermano y hermanas! Thanks for reading; now, let’s see some more writing!