Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Thanksgiving Eve





I've given the grocery store a huge chunk of change in the past week. #1 son, DIL and BabyGrand will be here tomorrow and #2 son arrived last night around midnight -- the first time in two years that he's been here for the holidays. My pantry is filled to overflowing. The turkey is thawing in the fridge. My freezer has no more room in it. I have recipes in a pile on the kitchen counter, ready to start cooking in the morning.

We'll be having this.



And this.



And this.


And somewhere on the other side of the world, a soldier will be having this.



Which looks like this when it's "cooked."


And this is dessert.



Doesn't seem quite fair, does it? That soldier's life is in danger, and I'm lounging on the sofa watching a rerun of CSI. He's looking out for roadside bombs, and I'm keeping an eye on my waistline. She's wishing she could get the sand out of her underwear, and I'm wondering if I should throw a load of laundry in the washer or just let it ride another day. After all, I have at least 14 days' worth of undies in the dresser.

I know their mothers wish they were able to sit around the table at home and visit with the family. I hope next year our soldiers will be home safely and their mothers will be chatting excitedly about how their children are coming home for the holidays.

Thank you to all the men and women serving in our armed forces around the world. We appreciate you.

P.S.
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14 comments:

Katherine Bone said...

I hope you have a great time with your family, PM!

My #2 got home from school on Friday and my #1 got home with his family (to include our 2 grandsons, Woo-hoo!) on Sunday night. This is the first time we've all been together for Thanksgiving in 3 years. Like you PM, my pantry is overflowing, I'll be cooking and am truly enjoying this time with my grandsons.

Meanwhile, my Dad's facing a very serious health concern. He lives 12 hours away and I'm trying to put on a happy face for everyone. Please pray for him. Thanks.

Happy Cooking playfriends!

Anonymous said...

PM, you made me cry, which doesn't happen often. A lovely post.

Meljprincess said...

Excellent post, PM. My husband's in the Navy and a while back he brought home two pre-packaged meals. He wanted to show me what they looked like and I couldn't believe it. We didn't eat them but we did remove the candy. He's in Kuwait and I hope he has better fare than rations. I'll be here. Reading and sleeping. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.

Lynn Raye Harris said...

Amen, PM. Thankfully, my hubby's military career is over, but I can't help but think of my friends who are still in, and all the other soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who serve our nation this holiday season. May God always bless them.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. :)

Angel said...

So true. It is so easy for us to forget what they go through when they aren't with us. Hugs, meljprincess. Hope the hubby is home soon safe and sound.

I won't be cooking this Thanksgiving, as my hubby's family will be doing all of that. I do have to go to the store today so we have food to eat over the rest of the week and weekend. I'm not used to having to feed the family anything besides dinner. :)

Angel

Problem Child said...

No cooking for me...bhwahahaha!

I hope though, that thinking about those who can't be with their families during the holidays makes us all remember what Thanksgiving is all about--and it's not about arguing over stuffing types, football, and the late night sale at WalMart.

Kira Sinclair - AKA Instigator said...

Lovely post, PM. It's so easy to get caught up in the holiday hoopla and forget the people that need our thanks the most. Thank you to all the men and women serving our country this holiday.

Instigator

Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pants said...

Every year at our office dirty santa, one of the former military guys wraps some nasty rations meal as a gag. Not only do they look totally gross, but they've got like 2000 calories in them to sustain the soliders when their next meal might be a ways off. Makes me very happy to get the hula dancing Santa instead.

I'm very grateful to have Db's family overcooking for me and I hope they can manage something nice for the troops, at least for a holiday.

Hope everyone's bird is thawing!

Playground Monitor said...

Hope everyone's bird is thawing!

Mine is sealed in a heavy-duty oversize Hefty bag and in the whirlpool tub in the master bathroom (cool water and sans jets). LOL! I didn't want it taking over the kitchen sink all day since I forgot to move it from the freezer the fridge earlier this week.

PM

Playground Monitor said...

You can see the TurkeyTubbie here.

I'll be taking his place tomorrow night to soak away the stress. Only I'll have bubbles and steaming water. ;-)

PM

Unknown said...

PM that’s a really nice post, very true and sad.

My mom does most of the cooking but I peal the potatoes :o)

We have a very large group every year and have friends with smaller families come over as well. Our friend at work just lost her mom and is on the outs with her sister so were working on her to come over and to bring her son.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving.

Unknown said...

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Adding my thanks to our heroes as well.


Lee

Anonymous said...

My son dropped a bomb on us the other day. He said he was going to talk to the Army recruiter again. I almost had heart failure, but, if he makes the decision to join, then i'll back him 150%.

We're having the normal things for Thanksgiving. My family is very boring. We have to have turkey and gravy, with stuffing, mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes, corn and carrots and pie.

Every time i add something in, they go..."EWWWWW"...

However, we'll be having a spinach and artichoke dip, a pumpkin dip, and parmesan cheese sticks, plus whatever the rest are bringing.

When we lived in Jersey, we would call the MOTBY (Military Ocean Terminal, Bayonne, NJ) and invite soldiers who had no place to go, over for dinner...

I miss that.

Hugs and smooches to everyone. May the day be filled with all you hope it to be.

Kathy - my prayers are for your Dad...remember, it's the season of miracles!

May our military be safe from harm and enjoy some peace for a change.

Nini :)

Carol M said...

My son was never in the service but I can imagine how hard it is for families when their sons are on active duty and it's even harder, I'm sure, on holidays when everyone else gets together. I hope they will all be home soon.

Happy Thanksgiving!