That was lovely. Thank you.
On 28 Nov 2011 14:51:01 -0600, " +Grant. " <+Grant@grant.grant> wrote:
> "A Thanksgiving I Don't Ever Want to Forget" (Repost)
>
>
>This happened when I was 12, but I remember it like it was yesterday.
>Well, it was a good year. LOL
>
>We lived in a big country house that had a very big eat-in kitchen, so
>we did. Eat in it. But ultra large family gatherings, such as happened
>at Thanksgiving, filled our home to overflowing. Naturally we managed,
>but sometimes things didn't turn out as well as planned. Actually, from
>us kids' point of view, sometimes better than planned. MUCH better.
>Such as when Dad got too involved.
>
>One such holiday, we were mostly all seated at the big extended table,
>but us kids were relegated to two folding card tables at one end of the
>big table. That big table was so crowded with fixings and elbows and
>things, Dad decided to carve the very big Thanksgiving bird on our
>kids' table. Maybe he didn't want to make his usual mess on the fancy
>tablecloth. Anyway, that's where he dumped it, near the side that was
>next to the main table. Just as he was beginning his first very
>energetic turkey slicing attempt, the two legs under that side of the
>our card table chose that moment to collapse in protest, sending the
>turkey rolling under the big table, leaving Dad just standing there
>looking lost. Then, from us kids' point of view, things got even
>better.
>
>Spot, our old black and white tomcat, had this thing about feet. He
>liked them a lot. He tried to trip us when we walked rubbing against
>them, and licked our feet when he could get at them, and did all the
>other feet activities he could think of. There were a great many feet,
>all kinds of feet, under the big Thanksgiving table, so that's where he
>had parked himself, right in the middle of toe city, never expecting in
>his wildest feline dreams he would be anything but safe from being
>attacked by a gigantic dead bird at least 5 times his size. To say he
>was surprised would be a gigantic understatement! Not sticking around
>one split second, he streaked out of there, but he didn't get as far as
>he probably intended.
>
>Great Aunt Mabel had a very long dress on. Up it went the severely
>startled Spot. Mabel shrieked and tried to back away, but she went over
>backward in her chair. That would have pretty much ended things right
>there, if she hadn't grabbed hold of the tablecloth as a lifeline, and
>took it, and most of what was on it, crashing to the floor on top of
>her. Except for the full gravy boat. Mom reacted fast and tried to save
>it. Well, she did a little, all over herself.
>
>Us kids recovered first, and had fits of hysterical laughter. I don't
>think that helped any. Dad got over his paralysis and rushed over to
>help Mom, and almost stabbed and sliced her with the big carving set he
>was still holding. She avoided him like a star running back, and told
>him to "Put those things down and go help Mabel!" He did that by
>cowardly asking Great Uncle Hank to pull Spot, who was still struggling
>to get away, out from under his wife's dress. I think Dad didn't want
>to risk getting scratched. And slapped.
>
>Hank got scratched, and slapped, and escorted Mabel to one of the guest
>bedrooms to rest. Some of us kids were conscripted into the cleanup
>crew, and had more fun than usual in such a job. The floor wasn't quite
>as slippery as we made it out to be. When we got to the turkey, Dad
>offered to rinse it off and resume carving it for our dinner. Mom said
>"Absolutely not, we can't eat that!", so he put it out of the way on
>the counter. Even after all that mess, we still had more than enough
>food for a very good Thanksgiving dinner, and a memorable one, to say
>the least. As for that runaway turkey, well, it didn't get far. We had
>
>We let Spot have some of the turkey. Well, he asked. Revenge, maybe?
>Anyhow, he never went back under the table as long as he lived. He
>passed away 2 years later in his sleep. On my feet. Dreaming of the
>attacking turkey that, in the end, didn't get away. Possibly. I like to
>think so.
>
>
>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>
>I know it could have been written better, but I'm not a pro at this. I
>hope you liked it, and may all your future Thanksgivings be as fun for
>you as this one was for me, if not in exactly the same way. LOL
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