Saturday, November 13, 2010

Turkey Life Lessons and a Thank You

image

(Please keep reading for the thank you.)

***

I first made friends with a frozen turkey years ago in a small rent house, in a kitchen so tiny I could rest my elbows on all cabinet tops-simultaneously.

Opening the oven door, while standing in the kitchen, was an exercise

in hip placement.

Side note:  Young married people today skip vitally important steps in the early marriage process.

Whatever happened to living in a garage apartment teetering on top of a carport?

Anyway.

It was during those early days, my personal theory of turkey cooking was forged .

Here it is.

*A turkey is a turkey is a turkey…it is what it is… hence the Riverside turkey at HEB , is a respectable choice.

*Turkeys are so inexpensive, if I want to change my mind and buy a Butterball I can.

*I can create my own Butterball with a stick of butter.

*An alarm does not go off- nor do men in black suits and dark glasses appear at my door-

if I do NOT

follow

the thawing instructions on the package.

*When returning from the grocery store, the trip from the car to the kitchen,

while holding onto a 25 pound frozen turkey,

is a lonely trip.

*No one in the house is listening to your screams for help.

*Thinking ‘I can’t drop this on my foot’ helps .

*Setting an alarm for 5:30 am Thanksgiving morning, to put the turkey in the oven, is an act of love.

*Removing the still partially frozen package of giblets, from inside the turkey, at that hour is something else entirely.

*Tenting a turkey perfectly, to keep it from browning too soon, is the common man’s (woman’s) culinary reward.

*An avocado green, 70’s electric knife is the best way to carve a turkey.

*The minute the football watchers hear that magical mini-chain saw sound, they begin to move.

I can’t wait.

***

A Humble Thank You

The day of my husband’s surgery, while sitting in the waiting room, I felt relaxed and even sleepy.

I wondered for a moment about this,

and then I remembered…

“They are ALL praying.”

YOU were praying…

with teachers and friends and priests and church friends and

daughters and educational facilitators and trainers and colleagues.

And then I thought of this.

          I sing a song of the saints of God, 
patient and brave and true,
who toiled and fought and lived and died
for the Lord they loved and knew.
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen,
and one was a shepherdess on the green;
they were all of them saints of God, and I mean,
God helping, to be one too.

They loved their Lord so dear, so dear,
and his love made them strong;
and they followed the right for Jesus' sake
the whole of their good lives long.
And one was a soldier, and one was a priest,
and one was slain by a fierce wild beast;
and there's not any reason, no, not the least,
why I shouldn't be one too.

They lived not only in ages past;
there are hundreds of thousands still.
The world is bright with the joyous saints
who love to do Jesus' will.
You can meet them in school, on the street, in the store,
in church, by the sea, in the house next door;
they are saints of God, whether rich or poor,

and I mean to be one too.



Thank you.







 





 



 

29 comments:

Glenda/MidSouth said...

I can relate the the turkey ordeal! :-D Yes - I usually buy Riverside and do my own buttering it up. :D Overpaid for a Butterball the last time several years ago - and it wasn't all that great.
Hope you husband is doing well.
Enjoy your weekend.

Sue said...

Some of my best memories are of our first apartment...our first rental house...our first little home that cost less than my current car. We live in the most expensive house we've ever owned and yet to the 30-something set our neighborhood is considered starter homes. How did that happen?

I'm glad your husband is doing well. I've been on the receiving end of all the mass blogger prayers this year...it will carry you a long way, it did me.

Blondie's Journal said...

I am hoping that your husband's surgery went well, and yes, I was one of those praying.

You made me laugh over the trials and tribulations of getting that turkey on the table. I got so fed up one year that I just cooked the package of giblets right with the turkey.

XO,
Jane

NanaDiana said...

Oh yes...when did newly marrieds get the big houses and new cars and big bills that most of us let go so that we could save for that "starter" house? It's amazing to me how much kids have so quick today...and my own are no exception. Of course, their earning capabilities in today's high tech world are much more than ours were at that time...even though everything was cheaper back then. I think the ratio is a bit different and now there are usually 2 people working in a household.

My first turkey dinner was cooked by me at 21 for a whole gang of people. I had no idea what I was doing but everyone raved about it and I have been doing it ever since. I think they were smoking me and, idiot that I am, I took the bait and have been doing all the work for the last 40 years! lol

Hope your hubby's recovery is moving along smoothly. Hugs- Diana

From the Old InkWell said...

Enjoyed your post so much! It was funny and yet left me with a warm feeling inside. Bless you and your family and your hubby's recovery.

Lisa ~Suburban Retreat~ said...

Dear Laura ~ Yes, we were all praying for you and your husband and I continue to pray for his recovery! I absolutely chuckled out loud when I read your turkey tale! I always cook a fresh turkey to avoid all the mystery surrounding thawing a frozen bird but this year I purchased a large frozen turkey only 2 days before our feast. What a NIGHTMARE. The stories on the net are scary if you don't follow the strict instructions for thawing. I was terrified of poisoning all my guests. In the end, it was delicious and nobody was sick but I will only ever cook a fresh bird from here on out!

Pondside said...

Great post - of course it took me back to our first, odd but fondly-remembered abode!
I hope your husband is recovering well - hloding you in prayer........

Karen said...

What a great post! Laughed hard, as usual as I visualize you in that tiny kitchen and also wondering if our young'ns have lived ever in "interesting" places.
So glad the surgery went well. Yes... prayers were headed in Houston at an unbelievable rate. At some point I believe there was a big whooshing sound!
I am getting anxious for y'all to get back though and see activity at your home and a full driveway.
Take care!!
Karen
Ladybug Creek

Marigene said...

Wonderful post, Laura...I truly think the newlyweds of today are missing out on the struggles that made us strong.
A speedy recovery to your husband.

Theresa said...

I am giggling about the turkey! We WERE ALL PRAYING and I agree with Karen, I heard a big whooshing sound too:)

I will keep praying for a speedy recovery! Big hugs!

Anonymous said...

Yes, add me to the praying for a speedy recovery for your hubby. Bless his heart and yours. Hugs, Marla

Sarah said...

Linda, I smiled and giggled through your turkey life lessons, and like you, am amazed that young couples rarely start on the road of marriage with as little as many of us did a generation ago. Guess every generation experiences that in many ways.
Glad to hear your husband is recovering. I send my prayers and best wishes for a speedy recovery. ~ Sarah

Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

Laura, this made me smile. I couldn't agree more about today's newlyweds skipping important stages in life. They want the best of everything, from the beginning, never realizing how long it took their parents to accumulate so much stuff, and never understanding the joy of reliving those memories that center around less-than-ideal housing. :) Been there.

joanne said...

Ah yes, those early marriage days and a frozen turkey...you said it well!

So glad to hear you felt at Peace and all our good thoughts and prayers were lifting you. Hope things are well with hubby, Blessing to you both.

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

So glad you were calm and at peace during your husbands surgery. Prayer is a wonderful thing. I have been praying my whole life. The Blessed Mother is usually my go to . The nuns use to say That Jesus never refuses his mother any request. Glad our prayers made a difference.

Debra@CommonGround said...

Wow Laura, what memories you are bringing back!!
Loved your Chinet post, and I'm so sorry I missed that your husband was having surgery. Hope he is doing well. Hopefully "late" prayers still work!
lots of love,
Debra

trash talk said...

L.B.,
Let me start by saying...this is why I serve a ham!
These young couple just don't know what they are missing...although there is just so much togetherness I could stand in our tiny first home. (If a quarter was dropped...it rolled all the way from the front door to the back!) Your kitchen back then matches the description of our bathroom! And say what you want about today's technolgy, but I bet nothing made today will stand the test of time like our carving knives from the golden age of entertaining! Mine is harvest gold, btw!
I'm so glad you could feel my prayers while at the hospital. I empathize...I felt yours while waiting for Bella...just like a warm hug.
Debbie
P.S. As always...you served up a little soul food with the Bread Of Life.

Bonnie said...

Glad your husband's surgery is over and that you had a peace knowing people were praying. I thought of you and did remember to pray. God is good.

Thank you for the poem or song. It is beautiful. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I have some gravy stories!

Unknown said...

Hope hubby is doing well, and Happy Thanksgiving.

Marguerite said...

I'm hoping that your husband's surgery went well and he is still in my prayers, each day.

Had to laugh at your take on turkey. I can't look a turkey in the eye at 5 a.m., either, that's why I get my son to either deep fry it or smoke it on the grill, on Thanksgiving. And, if I do roast one, I do it the night before and no one is the wiser. And I only wish that I still had my mother's avocado green, electric knife! Like a dummy, I sold it at a yard sale, for a dollar! lol

Beth in NC said...

I'm glad you felt peace during your husband's surgery. Praise God!

I have been married 21 years and have only cooked 4 or 5 turkeys (with mother-in-law, sister-in-law, sister, and other family members around). Each time I have to call my parents. Ha.

God bless you!
Beth

Deb said...

you are right...young couples should start out in a tiny place...will make them appreciate their lives more...hope all is well with your hubby....great post

Denise said...

This really made me smile. My favorite part was the lonely trip from the car to the kitchen.

I still have my mother's electric knife. It was harvest gold, like Trash Talk's.

Linda said...

How beautifully written. ♥ Thank you for visiting my blog and for the sweet comment that you left there.

Hope everything is going well for your husband and your lovely thankful testimony is inspiring. Have a blessed week,
Linda

Domestic Designer said...

Wonderful Post! Hope your husband is doing well. I will certainly keep praying for a speedy recovery. I can really relate to your turkey tails! I was just making out my "schedule" for the week of Thanksgiving.....take turkey out of freezer was on there! Hope you have a good week!
DD

Lisa said...

Laura,
You sound in good spirits! Glad you had a chance to check in. Still praying for your husband's recovery.:)
PS Thanks for all the turkey HaHa's.

Olive said...

Have mercy....I recall the 70's avocado electric knife. Still praying for your husband. ♥O

Unknown said...

Golly, Laura, can relate to this young married wife cooking a turkey in the kitchen ... you were luckier than us, no avacado knife for us. Love your write.

So glad that your husband is doing better ... He answers our call ...

Have a beautiful Thanksgiving holiday season ~
TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

Malinda said...

My first turkey was cooked in a little apartment my sister called the Chateau Ghetto. I didn't know about the little plastic baggy of giblets inside...... The turkey was fine, but the gravy tasted like motor oil. I carved it with my avacado green electric knife that I will use again this year. Thanks for the memories.

 

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