The year was 1969: men had walked on the moon, Johnny Cash had been trying to walk the line, and my parents had just walked off the Michelangelo with a brood of eight children.
That was in the summer; come mid November we started hearing talks about a feast-day called Thanksgiving. Now, my mother knew little about Thanksgiving, pumpkin pie, Brussels sprout, Pilgrims, and whatnot; but, my aunt Flora, who had lived in Chicago for a while and had celebrated her first Thanksgiving already, tried to explain to her what it was all about with her own interpretation:
“It’s an American thing that must be done; else they’ll deport you!” to which my mother replied:
“I’m go to store right-away to buy a Pilgrim for the Thank-you dinner.” Relax. She came home with a turkey after all, and a big one, too. However, a few hours later, at about 3:00 pm, my older siblings filed in, each carrying a turkey they’d received as thanks from their employers.
It was the way it was back then: employees received thanks, not just pink slips. In any case, now we had six turkeys and a mother who didn’t believe in giving away food she could have used to feed ten mouths.
That was the way it was. Meat was scarce in the old country, and my mother thought we were still too poor as Americans to be giving away food. We were the poor.
So, for about a month dinner was turkey Parmigiana, turkey cacciatore, turkey ala Vinny Gumba, turkey ala the-way-I-like-it, turkey whatnot, and turkey coming-out-of-my-eyes. That is why, I am certain, I quickly grew to dislike that bird at a very young age.
So, Cara Mamma, this year you may skip me once again with that turkey, and pass me the Brussels sprouts, please! I don’t care if I get enough gas to light New York City for two days. Things being as they are, I can use that sort of natural resource as alternative fuel.
Author notes
True story. I come from a big family, 8 children. We would've been 16 all togehter if all had lived. Mother miscarried two sets of twins and two single. Two died weeks after birth. To Chloe, RIP Little Angel.
A contest entry
- #158 Help Set My Holiday Mood by daviscth.
875 points, ended November 10, 2008, 18 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 31 of 31
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a funny little story. great fun to read
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a really funny and touching piece concerning the mentality of newly arrived people to a very foreign, strange, and diverse country.
thanks ... I'm first-generation American, so really understand this mind-set.
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Thank you for reading and commenting,
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wow lol funny story and very well penned... nicely done... so sorry to hear bout ur lost tho... i we woudl've been four if my sister and twin bros hadnt died.... anyways nicely penned and congrats on the HM
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Muchas gracias
Thank you for reading and commenting...Input is always welcome.
Vito
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very very well written. I like reading memoir pieces, and this is well-done for one. Great job with the trophy.
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Thank you for reading and commenting...input is always welcome.
Vito
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WOW! Thanks for sharing a piece of your nostalgia with us, poet...
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Thank you for reading and commenting.
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Great Story
I really enjoyed reading about how your thanksgiving came about with glimpses of what life was like for you and your family. It was interesting and written in a way that warmed the heart. Wonderful writing and a joy to read!
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Thank you for reading, thank you for your kind comments.
Vito
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Congratulations to you on your trophy for this write. This is a great story and a very interesting one too. I kind of feel the same way but, only with chicken. I ate so much chicken growing up as a kid and still do thanks to my mom. I always told her that if I ever grew wings and flew away, it was because of her! LOL! I think that it's great that you come from a big family. I do too but, not as big as yours. Sorry to hear about your siblings that you lost along the way! Take care and thanks a lot for sharing this wonderful story here!
Jeremy0826
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Thank you for reading and commenting...Yup, we ate a lot of chicken as well, and anything that was on sale...she made some great meals, though.
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loved it
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Thank you.
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Today's Poem: 11/12/2008
Nominated by: Rend the Veil
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Thank you, thank you, Rend.
Vito -
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Your very welcome
questa storia è bella si, e dovrebbe essere posto!
essa dispone di una tale famiglia amorevole caldo appello ad essa i couldnt e passare così!
Benedizioni
Rend
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Grazie, Rend...your comments are always welcome. I tuoi commenti son ben'ricevuti. una rosa per te.
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Congratulations on your HM. This is a great story. I am sure your mama was very overwhelmed with all the blessings bestowed apon your family at a time when it was so needed. These stories bless us all. Thank you
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Thank you, peachy...glad you like it...H M is better than sex
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What a warm hearted Holiday story and all the better because it really is true. This is a real mood setter. Thanks so much for sharing with my contest.
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Thank you for reading and commenting and for hosting the contest.
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Storie del modo in cui è stato molto cuore di riscaldamento! Famiglia di amore e di Mama Bella! Memories of Unforgetable times, I loved this story!
Keep them comming!
Rend
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Tante grazie, Rend...quella e una cosa che non scordo mai...something I'll never forget...my first Thanksgiving. Una rosa per te
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Grazie per la Rosa
Rend -
Famiglia con i ricordi del tempo rafforzare i legami, siete benedetti!
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oh damn, what an enjoyable read, thanx for sharing this particular piece. If that isn't setting a holiday mood nothin is. Right on, write on.
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Thank you, hoss...glad you like it.
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Another wonderful story, and glimpse into your life!
I love turkey, but I think I'd be sick of it after that too lol.. good on your mum for not wasting any though
We don't have thanksgiving here, but I could imagine how it was celebrating it for the first time, as seeing it through your eyes!
Keep the stories coming
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Thank you, Jackie...good memories, crowded house, lots of love to go around.
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