Life During COVID-19: Day 305
November 26, 2020: On Thursday morning I found myself preparing a turkey for thanksgiving dinner. In years past thanksgiving dinner was generally hosted by an aunt and we would just bring a side dish, appetizer or dessert. However because 2020 came with a pandemic, this year our thanksgiving would be scaled down from approximately 50 people to five. Even though we’re missing key members this year, I’m still putting all the love I’ve got into making a yummy meal for my immediate family. I love cooking for my ohana. At least 10 years have passed since I’ve cooked a turkey and this is the first time I’m making it a little fancier. By fancy, I mean I’m using lemons, apples, onion, rosemary, thyme, sage, garlic, salt and pepper. First I prepared the bird by drying it off with a paper towel. Then I added salt and pepper inside the cavity and stuffed it with the lemon, apple, onion, rosemary, thyme and sage. Using garlic and the remaining herbs, I mixed a butter concoction to spread on to the turkey as well as under the skin near the breasts. That turkey had the best massage of its afterlife! Once the turkey was properly seasoned, I plopped it into the oven and allowed it to start roasting.
Over the next several hours while eating a salad and pizza for breakfast, I caught glimpses of Verizon’s YouTube stream of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Watching the televised parade has been a tradition for me for as long as I can remember. I found myself getting emotional on the couch as I reminisced of past thanksgiving gatherings. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. Not because of the horrible association it has in American history (obviously) but more so because I associate this holiday with my family. As a kid I remember people would come to my grandma’s house to celebrate. The adults would be in the kitchen all day cooking while the little cousins were running around inside and outside the home playing.
I also thought back to thanksgiving during the year 2000 when my grandma was dying from pancreatic cancer. It was going to be our last thanksgiving with her. We cooked all her favorites including baked salmon. Even though she couldn’t eat very much we wanted the experience to be comforting and provide a sense of normalcy. Throughout the day I sat next to her while she relaxed in her recliner near the fire place. My small brown hands lightly grasped her tiny pale hand as we watched the parade together on TV.
20 years later our thanksgiving celebration would be taken down a notch. Me, my brothers, mother and stepfather would all gather around and start new traditions. I brought my turkey, green bean casserole and stuffing to add onto the small feast my stepfather prepared. Though I was satisfied with the end result of my turkey, I knew I could have done better with my side dishes. I called this year’s meal my practice run lol. After we ate, we reflected on the year and loved ones who are no longer with us. For the first time that I can remember, because we had a more intimate gathering, each person was able to share what they are thankful for. Even though my son was not able to join us for this year’s meal we spent most of the month discussing different things we are grateful for whether it was a smell, an experience, or a person.
Looking forward, I think 2021 will be an even sweeter celebration. Hopefully we will be with our entire family again, embracing one another, and watching our little ones run around after snatching lumpia off the counter. I want to see pancit next to the mashed potatoes and pinakbet. While I was preparing the turkey this morning my son was playing alone in the living room. I wish he had the chance to experience playing with his cousins while we all talk story, laugh and cook together. I believe one day we will have that again.
