Where's the Turkey?

It actually happened. I ate two family meals on Thanksgiving Day, neither of which contained the merest hint of Turkey. How is this possible, you ask? Isn't turkey a huge tradition? Well, I guess some people don't stand by tradition much, except of course for the "thanksgiving" part. I was just thankful there was plenty of food to eat. Besides, I was getting sleepy just with the rest of the food, so adding turkey in the mix would have me falling asleep at the table!

For the first meal, my hosts outdid themselves (albeit sans turkey): a delicious baked ham, pork roast, brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes topped with creamy marshmallows, broccoli with Bearnaise sauce, the traditional mashed potatoes and gravy, a gorgeous Harvest salad containing spinach leaves, Gorgonzola cheese, whole blackberries, dried cranberries, candied walnut pieces, and poppyseed dressing; a gigantic pumpkin pie for dessert (sadly, I had to leave the crust behind), and stuffing (which I didn't touch). A gluten-free Thanksgiving wasn't so bad after all! I did have to forego the bread bowl of spinach dip which was the appetizer, but that's a small sacrifice compared with the other fare!

My second meal consisted of barbecued chicken, carne asada, tortillas, frijoles negros (black beans), apple and persimmon slices, and homemade applesauce (again, I stayed away from the cake). Again, a gluten-free success. But it's not all about the food.

On Thanksgiving Day, I began by - what else? - giving thanks to God for all my blessings at Holy Mass. At dinner with the family, we each took turns telling about the things and people for which we are grateful, placing cloves in a small bowl as we did so.  Almost everyone mentioned family, friends, shelter and life. I felt tears forming in my own eyes as I gave thanks, the last one to place my clove in the bowl.
It's an interesting reflection that the fragrance of gratitude is a sweet and pleasant one. It certainly is an attractive quality in any person. So, just as I do every year, I resolve to be continually grateful and endeavor to express my thanks more often to those who deserve them. There is, after all, more joy in giving than receiving, and life is too short to die.