Dear Reader Column 11-23-05

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Dear Reader,

My husband and I went turkey shopping earlier this week. I realize that our search for the biggest bird--nothing under 23 pounds will do--might not be the usual way of creating sentimental holiday memories, but for us it's become a tradition. We don't actually need a huge turkey any longer--there will only be a handful of us at the table this year--but it just wouldn't feel right cooking a puny little 10-pounder, and besides, everyone wants to take home leftovers. In fact, I'd have to say that leftovers are the best part of the Thanksgiving meal.

I'm not the only one who craves leftovers days before the big feast. My father-in-law lives in a retirement center, and most of the people there are single. So this year, I suggested that he bring two or three of his neighbors along with him to Thanksgiving dinner. Two extra people at the table--that was okay with him. Three? No way. He was concerned that inviting that extra third person might mean no leftovers for him to take home.

People get serious about their leftovers, and if it looks like there might not be any, they take matters into their own hands. My mother loved my Shrimp and Shell salad. She'd gobble up at least three helpings right away, and then spend the rest of the meal keeping tabs on anyone who headed back to the kitchen for seconds. Following right behind them, she'd do her best to encourage them to eat more turkey, mashed potatoes, cole slaw--anything except the shrimp salad.

I've been thinking about it, and maybe we should extend the Thanksgiving celebration to two days? On Thursday, everybody gets formally dressed for dinner (including the turkey), and then on Friday we'd all gather together again, but this time we'd be eating a Thanksgiving Leftover Day Dinner. Sitting at the Thanksgiving table in pantyhose and a form-fitting dress, I can't really do the original 20-course meal justice. But slide me into some stretchy, elastic-waisted pants on Leftover Day, slip on my flip-flops, twist my hair up and stick it under a baseball cap, and I could probably even go back for thirds on pumpkin pie.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com 
www.DearReader.com

Comments

[Carole]

Dear Suzanne--

Now you've done it. You can't just drop in that your mother loved your shrimp and shell salad. You've GOT to post the recipe! (It will go into my recipe box as "Suzanne's Mother's Favorite Shrimp & Shells.")

It's so good to cook with friends.

[nina]

Wait a sec! call me picky (maybe this is why I AM a Loner sans'friends') but why is your Dear Reader about friendship dated WEd Nov 23 and yet it's Nov 24th in your blog list? Oh, maybe it's because you actually SEND it sometime before midnight the day before? which is when the 'net dates it but we aren't s'posed to read it til the next day. Often I do read your column late at night so never noticed the date discrepency.
N'importe, I never mind being reminded of ones I'm not looking for as I look for a particular one.
Well I'm off to check the last few days to see if my observation tracks. I wonder who else, but a loner, is rereading Suzanne's Blogs ON Thanksgiving Day! In a little while I'll be calling small family gatherings across the North american Continent to share their Thankfulness...or in Canada's case to give them a second day to share with us.