Thanksgiving Memories

Food for Thought

Around this time of year, the holidays, I think back and remember the many Thanksgivings that I have experienced. I’ll that bet that you do, too. Basically, even though I had a half brother, the only real times we spent together were during the holiday seasons when we attended the major events at my Grandmother’s farm five miles away.

Those were the times I got to see my cousins, aunts, uncles and grand parents. I don’t know how things were handled at your Thanksgiving and Christmas events but I imagine there were similarities. At Grandmother’s house most of the times leading up to dinner we kids played outside. We especially liked to play in the snow. But, sometimes, since “Mom”, as we called Grandmother, asked me to help in the kitchen.

She was a caterer and had a commercial kitchen in her home so she had all the appliances and tools needed to make a magnificent spread. We had duck, turkey or roasting hens, ham and shrimp. Most of the meat came from her small farm. Of course we also had stuffing, a couple of kinds of potatoes, cranberry salad and tomato aspic, hot rolls and many different kinds vegetables and pies.

At suppertime of all us kids came in from outside, washed up and went to the recreation room to eat separate from the adults. It was a big deal when one moved from the “kid’s room” to be invited to eat with the adults. And, an even bigger deal when we were asked to say the prayer.

After our sumptuous meal we all went to the recreation room to play games or cards. Of course, if was Christmas it was PRESENTS TIME! The radio, and later, the television was never turned on. It was a time to share with each other, check on how the kids were doing in school and generally talk about the events of the year that had happened since Easter. It was usually very late before we ate again, grabbed some “leftovers” and went home to our cozy beds.

If you feel so inclined I would be very happy if you shared memories of your holidays via the comments button. Good or bad, if you feel like it please share it. The more sharing, the better. Since this is only my third post here on The Old Buzzard’s Roost, we probably won’t have a huge turnout. But, hey if you contribute it will be a start. You can write as much or as little as you like. I am sure it will liven up the holiday.

As I think about this: If you were a part of the old-times it would really help the younger ones amongst us to see what they missed by your recollection. Or, if these traditions are still alive in your family please share that as well. If you think others would enjoy this please share it. I would appreciate your support as a paid or free subscriber as this is the way I support myself and I hope to be successful enough to bring my wife deb on-board as well. The goal is to have 300 subscribers by next March.

After I got older and grew up, was in my 50’s and Mom passed away those wonderful times became faded memories that I still cherish to this day.

Ha!! I’ll bet you are thinking it’s the end of the story. But it’s not. In 1990 we bought our first farm in the Appalachian part of southern Ohio. In a few years we had become a bustling diversified 160 acre farm that produced 6 acres of beyond organic vegetables, meat chickens, egg layers, free-range turkeys, cattle and goats. We sold everything we grew direct to restaurants and shoppers in Columbus and Athens. There were lots of fresh-dressed turkeys, large roasting hens and fall vegetables marketed to customers throughout the area as well. Oh, yes: I almost forgot to add that TV was not part of those feasts either. And later on, cell phones were not permitted. That was by unanimous agreement as well.

Needless to say, we had everything that was needed to invite our friends and relatives to the farm every holiday. I guess we DID return to the old ways for a while. But then as our children moved away and when we moved to another farm in Missouri in 2000 that all ended again. Sad but true.

But on the this 25th we traveled to Springfield to have an early Thanksgiving with Deb’s 95 year young Dad and wife Wendy because Deb has to work on Thursday. As a guest we had a homeless man. Perhaps if you don’t have enough family around now, you could possibly invite a poor family or older person(s) without a family to participate in your celebration.

As a final thought: how has the smart phone, internet and television affected your holidays? Do you yearn for the conversations and interactions the used to be? Would you be interested in giving the old way a new try?

Well, that IS the end of this post but I’ll be back during the weekend. If I receive any comments by then we will be discussing them, if not, I am sure I can think of something! Thank you for spending this time with me. I am honored. Happy Holidays!

Herman Beck-Chenoweth

The real Old Buzzard

© 2025 Herman Beck-Chenoweth