Thanksgiving Unmasked – 2021
Thanksgiving has become special for us. It was Grandma Garrison’s (Jani’s mother) favorite holiday, and for many years we would drive the 6.5 hours to her grandparents’ farm in western New York to celebrate with her family. When Jani’s parents moved in with us in Bantam (2008), we inherited the responsibility for hosting, and it has become our favorite holiday as well. The simple reason is family. Thanksgiving offers none of the distractions of Christmas; the omnipresent repetitive music for months on end, the anxieties (and pressures) about presents, nor the epidemic commercialism. But it embodies the warmth of a family gathering on Christmas morning with a sharp focus on family.
We had to limit the number of guests last year because of the COVID pandemic, but this year all eligible participants were vaccinated and/or boosted: There were thirty-one of us, some coming from as far away as Seattle. Masks were off finally, and our house was alive with energy. It was wonderful; and in that way, it was a bit like Christmas.
WHO CAME?
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OUR THANKSGIVING STARTED ON A SUNDAY
This year, our Thanksgiving felt like it started early, when we picked up our younger son, Wyatt, and his family (Sara, Emmett & Luca) at JFK Sunday night. It had been years since they had been to our Bantam CT home, and their presence gave a real boost to the holiday. Our grandsons arrived with 2 requests: They wanted Grandma Jani to show them how to make her Baked Alaska, and they wanted to fish.
Even though we had big machinery here excavating and paving our driveway early in the week (catnip for most kids) they were focused on fishing, not dump trucks. True to form, they had great success fishing at a local pond, exciting even for Luca (4) who had been reeling in salmon the week before in Washington. (Not pictured here, they also baked challa with their grandma early in the week.)
EMMETT (7), LUCA(4) & GRANDMA JANI’S BAKED ALASKA
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GRANDSON’S 2 REQUESTS: FISHING & BAKED ALASKA
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Our closest guests live an hour-and-a-half from Bantam, but most live further away (Virginia, Maine, Pennsylvania, western NY State) Because of this, we house most of the family who come for the holiday.
Family members who had not come earlier started to arrive Wednesday afternoon, so we had to plan 4 meals. As usual everyone contributed food, expertise and their labor, which made this task less of a chore. We had 21 for dinner the night before Thanksgiving and for breakfasts; 31 for the Thanksgiving feast. We managed to accommodate as many dietary restrictions as we could, and there was plenty of food. In fact, most left with tupperware filled with leftovers.
EVERYONE PITCHES IN
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Years before, Jani’s mom called on everyone to form a “family circle” before the Thanksgiving feast. It was a chance to take a deep breath after all the frenetic meal preparations, say a few words or offer a prayer. We all held hands in a circle and, after the speakers were done, each member of the family would squeeze hands slowly around the circle. When the circle was complete and the last hand was squeezed, it would be time to line up for food.
THANKSGIVING STAPLES: FAMILY & FOOD
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The Thanksgiving meal was based mostly on traditional foods; turkey, of course, mashed potatoes, gravy, salad, homemade bread and casseroles or dishes made from sweet potatoes, corn, carrots, root vegetables and more. There were 2 turkeys, one prepared in the oven and another prepared on a grill. It is doubtful that anyone managed to try every dish, but the consensus was that everything was delicious.
THANKSGIVING MEAL & A FAMILY CIRCLE: A PHOTO GALLERY
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As in past years, everyone ate too much and dessert could not even be considered until after a family walk or a generous interval of time. Most took a 3-mile walk on a trail around a pond (Granniss Pond) that is managed by the Litchfield Land Trust. They returned to our home shortly before dark to find homemade pies, cheesecake and pudding.
POST THANKSGIVING ACTIVITIES: A PHOTO GALLERY
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UNTIL NEXT YEAR
