This is, or rather was, Marie-Hortense, last year's Thanksgiving turkey in Paris. Why, you may ask, such a dignified name for our she-bird? I'd tell you. But then I'd have to kill you. Suffice it to say, there were some at the table who thought a certain Marie-Hortense would benefit from a sprig of rosemary up the bum.
This year, Thanksgiving seems to have snuck up on me. I'm just back from a 3 week trip to the US. Still up at 4am every morning from the jetlag. I doubt anyone in our tiny Provencal village even knows it's a holiday; so I will go on with business as usual: buy some salmon and dorade from the fishmonger at our Thursday market, work for a few hours in my local cafe. I'm organizing my winter pantry, cocao powder and lots of whole wheat pasta - as they are predicting snow this weekend.
One thing that happens when no one around you is frantically cooking, polishing silver or planning their 5am Black Friday shopping marathon, is that you have a little time to think about what Thanksgiving really means. I'm a perfectionist, which means I am often ungrateful. I expect too much - of myself, and of everything and everyone around me. I often forget to give thanks for the many gifts life has given me: a son who smiles all the time, a man who can tile a floor and recite poetry, a family who loves me even when I bite back, friends who can finish my sentences, a job that engages my head and my heart, and a new, glorious landscape to explore.
So this year, I've decided to take the day off. From myself. Today, I will not feel behind. I will not worry about being a better wife, mother, daughter, housekeeper or writer. I'll be having quite an ordinary day, but I'll be thinking and thanking - instead of fretting and fixing. We all need one day a year when we meet our own expectations, and allow the world to be as it is, instead of exactly how we would like it to be.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Now, if only there was a way to make turkey soup without actually making the turkey...
Well said, Elizabeth. You are an inspiration and a fantastic writer. And I'm sure you're a super daughter, wife, mother and friend. So, oui, enjoy a day of quiet contemplations. Have a happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteThat's a wonderful Thanksgiving resolution!
ReplyDeleteSometimes someone else's words are just what we need to remind us of our own weaknesses and blessings. Thanks for writing what this fellow perfectionist needed to read today.
ReplyDeleteThank-you for your lovely words. As an expat from Britain, now living in the USA, I've adopted Thanksgiving for my children growing up here. I take many shortcuts. That is, store bought stuffing, tinned cranberries and I help the drippings by adding stock and McCormick's Turkey Gravy. My family has never noticed the difference. The fact that they cannot wait to sit around the table to dig-in says it all.
ReplyDeleteGloria x
Loved this post. I spent the day totally alone opting out this year for the feast and I wasn't lonely one bit. I painted walls, read, ate stuffing from a local gourmet grocery, two frappachinos (yes, two!), long shower, wrapped presents, it was so perfect and quiet. My heart is filled with gratitude for just a whole day OFF!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had a day off from fretting and fixing...
ReplyDeleteI spent a quiet day at home, and was thankful to be able to stay out of horrendous traffic and catch up with someone by phone.
Best to you and your family. It sounds like the move agrees with you.
Very nicely said. I feel the need to relax now.
ReplyDeleteI love your style of writing (duh, your an author) but this post really had me laughing. Sounds like your plan to relax is a good one. Hope you had an enjoyable day.
ReplyDeletePLEASE do a new post minus a naked beast...
ReplyDeleteplease?
i finished reading your book yesterday. i do so love memiors with recipes. they are my fave!
ReplyDeletein the back was a little note about your life in the present day... it mentioned a blog! yay!
even though it is june, i'm reading these posts from the holidays. i just had to mention that our bird is named brother tom each thanksgiving.
as a tiny girl, our daughter hannah, hearing us refer to a 'young' tom turkey, turned it into 'brother' tom in honor of one of her favorite people... an orchestra leader at our church.
don't feel bad about being an omnivore. keep on blogging... and i'll keep reading;)