Wednesday, November 14, 2007

A Thanksgiving Celebration


We're about to celebrate another Thanksgiving and most of us of the female persuasion have been preparing the meal for many days now. There are pies and cakes to be baked, not to mention the cornbread for the dressing. There are collard greens to be washed and cut up to cook in the big pot with a side of fat back, sweet potatoes for baking and cranberry compote to prepare. It dawned on me, while looking at a painting of the first Thanksgiving, that the women were standing and serving and men were sitting and eating. Just as I have suspected for years, it all became clear: men invented Thanksgiving. They are the ones who have the most to be thankful for, after all. Thankful for the splendid meals that their women folk prepare, thankful for the 72 hours of football that will consume the hours of a Thanksgiving weekend. Thankful to be able to loosen their belts so they can cram in just one more turkey sandwich and maybe one more slice of sweet potato pie. Thankful for that one long belch that left burp status 45 seconds ago. They are thankful that they have the day off to enjoy this wondrous day of feasting and bonding, an absolute orgy of food, football, and bloated bellies. Oh yes, does anyone doubt it? Men definitely invented Thanksgiving.

I know what most women are thankful for, too. They are thankful to be able to turn off the oven at long last, put everything on the back burner and take a breather before it is time to set the table. Then they are thankful if everyone shows up for dinner on time and doesn't throw off the the whole feeding frenzy. After the demolition of what they laughingly call "the dinner" they are more than thankful if just one person stands up and says, "let me help you with the dishes" and not only won't take no for an answer, but follows through to the drying part. They are thankful that there are at least 72 hours of football to keep the men occupied and out from underfoot, since they have the day off. They are thankful to have two television sets so that they might watch what they want to watch, if and when the mood (and the time) strikes them. And while it was wonderful to have the whole family together for at least one day, they are thankful that when the guests are gone, they can lay down and take a nap. For, now that Thanksgiving is over, it is time to begin all those Christmas preparations, the baking, the shopping, the trimming, the party planning, the house cleaning, the "fence mending" from the fights that broke out during Thanksgiving's big football game. Yes, a long nap is definitely in order after the big day. So ladies, shove the big lug out of the recliner, because as the jingle goes, you deserve a break today!

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sandi, that was so cute. It is true that men used to eat first. my dad says even when he was young the men ate first and children last. We have turned that around now. Dad said the poor babies maynot get much and sure no meat left. No wonder the kids weren't fat. =) have a blessed day

Pam said...

The whole men eating first thing still happens on my dad's side of the family. I find the whole thing silly, but they are a backwards group.
While men may have invented Thanksgiving, the women must be thankful for the long nap the men have so they can have some moments of peace and quiet! lol!

Justabeachkat said...

Oh Girl, I just love you! I'm thankful to visit you every day and read your spin on things. Right on...every time! Loved this post! So true.

Hugs!
Kat

Mary said...

Glad we don't have Thanksgiving in UK sounds like too much hard work to me

Kari (GrannySkywalker) said...

I can vividly remember the moment I looked at Randey and told him he'd better rethink his whole holiday attitude. We were heading over to Sherri's for one more big "fun-filled" holiday dinner and Randey just couldn't wait. I, however, COULD. I got to look forward to helping to cook and helping to clean up. Randey, on the other hand, got to look forward to BS'ing with his brothers and mom and watching football and playing horseshoes and feeding his face. I decided that plan just wasn't working for me anymore so I told him he really needed to stick with me...that meant he could peel potatoes while I prepared green beans, corn and dinner rolls. And he could suffer through a bad case of dishpan hands just as easily as I could. I must say...MY enjoyment of the holidays increased ever so slightly while Randey's seemed to take a bit of a nose dive. But, them's the breaks, right? lol

Anonymous said...

Hi Sandi, I found your blog when I was reading Adla's blog. You had made a comment about not having any fairs like that in Chesterfield County. Whoa...I thought to myself. This blogger lives about 13 miles from me. So I jumped right over to your blog. Whoops....right county, wrong state. You are in S.C. and I am in Va. but we both have a Chesterfield County. I absolutely loved reading your blog and your spin on things. Delightful. Come visit me. I am having a give-away and I would love to add your blog to my list. ~ Smiles ~ Lynn

Sandra Evertson said...

Great post!
Sandra Evertson

Wanda @ Just Vintage said...

LOL So true!

Vee said...

That was a fun read. Thanks for the grins.

Unknown said...

This is funny and this is why I am so grateful my Dad takes us all out to dinner on Thanksgiving each year. The only thing I miss is the leftovers. LOL

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

In our family men eat first... and last... and snacks in between!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Sandi, That was wonderful! I have to admit that I am luckily married to someone who does not care about football! But, that being said, I do have 4 grown sons who do :-). Two of them are coming for Thanksgiving, which is also my Birthday this year. One of them did ask me if I wanted to go out for dinner on Thanksgiving, because it was my birthday...so I am thinking I raised them right. But, I am cooking t-day dinner..I love to do it. My husband and two sons are doing the dishes :-)
Penny

Adla said...

Sandi,
and the cycle goes on. Men are surely thankful when their tummies are fed and we are thankful if they can help out with the dishes to say the least.

Anonymous said...

Hi Sandi! Gosh that is so true & funny!! lol!! Wish we had Thanksgiving, we love sweet potato!!! Have a lovely day Sandi! J & J xo

Anonymous said...

Hi Sandi, us again! Just to let you know hon your parcel has been posted and is making it's way across the Pacific Ocean as I type! Postie told me it could take up to 8 days, huge volume of mail going on right now !! J & J xo

Jodie Adams said...

You are too funny! But it's the truth, that's just the way things go. Luckily for me I like the cooking so half the day is good for me.

Abbie said...

I love cooking so to be in the kitchen during thanksgiving is no biggie, I enjoy people enjoying my food better..I'm so excited to be hosting thanksgiving this year.
Did you say people are starting to bake their pies now? Isn't it a little early?

Susie Q said...

This is such a wonderful post dear Sandi. You have such a way with words and we, your blog friends, are the lucky recipients of these treasures!
I love your take on such things and oh how you make me smile!

Love,
Sue