|
Thanksgiving used to involve 50-60 people at my house (my Mom is one of 7 kids) and it was easier to invite everyone's in-laws to our house so everyone could be together (since the 'in-laws' usually involved like...10-15 people). We also have had family friends join us. But then my great-aunt and great-uncle and their family broke off...then one aunt & uncle moved to New Mexico and another aunt & uncle to Florida. And some of the 'in-laws' have broken off as well. I think my Mom said there are only 29 of us this year--all family and 'in-law', no family friends.
But since there are so many people, and since my great-aunt and great-uncle own a catering company--we've had catered Thanksgiving for as long as I can remember. It's my great-aunt's recipes anyway--so it's not like the food isn't good. My Mom still makes applesauce, a strawberry-rhubarb jello mold, corn bread muffins, and pumpkin pie. And this year she's told me that most of that will be my responsibility--plus making my special margarita pie and brownies. Most of it we'll cook on Wednesday--but Mom always gets up at 6 AM on Thursday morning to make the pumpkin pie fresh.
We've also started a new tradition the past couple of years--celebrating Hanukkah on Thanksgiving. There are 10 of us cousins and since we're all grown (except one who is almost 11--the 3 oldest after him are all seniors in high school) no one is around for the Winter anymore. Since my cousins and I are 'no fun' (meaning--we all just ask for money) my Mom and her siblings used to go all out for each other--but it has turned into a mess...and really complicated Thanksgiving in many ways. So supposedly, this year, it's just my cousins and I getting stuff. I'm the oldest and somehow no one ever listens when I ask for money (which is funny--since I'm the one who needs it most since I'll be paying off grad-school loans really soon!) so we'll see what happens. Last year, some people did...and one Aunt got me the most unnecessary gift ever--the first gift I've EVER returned for the cash...so I told my Mom she really needs to be explicit with people this year. Not to say I'm a money grubber--but my other cousins just spend their money on beer and college fun or whatever high school kids spent it on these days (up until May I was the only one who had graduated from college yet--although 2 just did)--and I'm the one who uses the money to pay for stuff for my cat and my apartment.
|
Threaded Mode
