A Tradition Unlike Any Other ... Thanksgiving

Every year during the first full week of April, we hear the famous words of Jim Nantz echo from our flat screens or laptops as the camera soars through the majestic treeline of Augusta National ... "A tradition unlike any other ... the Masters". 


These words have become synonymous with the most well known golf tournament of the year and can be heard at times and places where the sport may not even be applicable. Whether you are an avid golfer or don't know the difference between a driver and a putter, but know the name of Tiger's 3rd mistress, there is a chance you have heard them while your boyfriend, husband, or father tears up during a montage of fist pumps and 50-foot putts sinking on the unmistakable greens of Augusta. This week, we set out to participate in traditions of our own, with family or friends, new or old, and I think we all can agree that gearing up for Thanksgiving and everything that surrounds Thursday is a feeling ... unlike any other.


Turkey Day is basically all of my favorite things wrapped up into one: football and action, hanging out with people I love, and green bean casserole. Oh, and of course, leftovers. The only thing that may be missing is chicken parm, but I think I do OK taking care of that craving every other day of the year. What constitutes a good Thanksgiving in your mind? 


The way the turkey is cooked? 
The sides, because who really cares about the turkey anyway? 
How much you won on the Lions game? 
The limited amount of travel you had to endure? 
The level of your hangover from Wednesday night in the Old Port? 
The late night turkey sandy?
Or is it just who is around you and having the chance to relax for a few days without the stress of school or work? 


I think the easy answer is all of the above, but we don't live in a perfect world, so if every year for the rest of my life I can sit down at a table, and then on a couch, with people I love then I'm good. Although I wouldn't hate if that leftover turkey sandy remained a staple ... 


As Nat said in her blog last week, life happens. Sometimes we have to adjust, maybe even on a yearly basis, to make sure we still make an effort to fit in as many of the good things about this week as we can. Tradition. Family. Food. I don't think we need to worry about football, or Vegas odds, going anywhere. 

In the past few years, whether Greg, Julie and I were up in Maine together or Mom and I headed across the street to the Belangers, we have been pretty consistent about cooking and football in sweats, drinking Peju (see winery pic right), and sitting down for a meal that usually lasts about 30 minutes. Perfection. This is often followed by more Peju, an amazing food coma nap, and then early evening leftovers and apple pie. Ahhhh.


This year, I am only adding to that perfection and could not really ask for anything more, with a new Marsh (Lex and bear below) and a Natalie in the mix. 

In two days, all of these favorite Marshy things are coming together in one place, at one time (well two places at two times, but by one place at one time, I was simply referring to Thanksgiving as a whole ... ya know?). Mom's heading this way, we are combining family forces with the Pateys on Thursday, followed by Lexi and leftovers at Greg and Julie's. Life is happening and moving forward in a way that keeps me excited about what is next - from holiday traditions to snow storms to vacations. This Thanksgiving I am hoping is only the start to a new tradition ... unlike any other ... for years to come. 

I'll leave with you this:

"Turkey for the girls andTurkey for the boysMy favorite kind of pantAre corduroysGobble gobble goo andGobble gobble gickelI wish that turkeyOnly cost a nickel
Oh I love turkey on Thanksgiving."

Happy Thanksgiving y'all.
Marshy