This week while everyone is packing for trips back home, warming their kitchens in anticipation of Thanksgiving and planning their Black Friday shopping, I’ll be doing plenty of this, writing. A whole week off allows for me to catch up here, to read and relax with family and friends, who I’ve missed while trying to blog, teach, raise a family and eat.
All of these events I look forward to, but they won’t fully satisfy me this week.
I’ll be missing Big Brother, Middle Sister and Baby Sister too much to feel completely content. Unfortunately, this means everyone in our home will suffer greatly. We’ll be listening to a lot of very sad music and possibly be seen in our pajamas too much by the neighbors, but again, it’s an entire week off from school, so we’re entitled.
I laugh, but it’s true.
I look forward to Thursday, and all the cooking we’ll do as a family. We’ve never stayed home for Thanksgiving. I’ve never made a turkey, so this ought to be an experience, one I may never live down, but we charge forward anyway. I mean, Carpe diem, right? I’ll make everything that Grandma Maxine used to have on her table, all but the oyster stuffing. I can’t say we’ll have anyone making requests to have this at our table.
We’ll give thanks, enjoy each other’s company and relax while we call home to see about the family.
I may even throw in a few terribly clichéd family movies such as Smokey and the Bandit, The Man From Snowy River, Weird Science, Overboard or Six Pack. I have clearly carved these movies out in my mind as family movies, because Big Brother always had control of the television or VCR.
Imagine three sisters being forced to endure these movies. Yeah, seemed a bit brutal back in the day, but now I stop to watch them. It seems they provide a nice little day-dream about being with my siblings during the holidays.
When everyone goes to bed, I may then watch movies that remind me of my sisters. First up, I’ll watch Finding Neverland, which is about my favorite playwright J.M. Barrie. This movie will remind me of how much fun we had playing as children. Not near as much fun as the children on the screen, but we enjoyed each other’s company. Imagine as a child having an influence like J.M. Barrie. Yes, go on, imagine it.
What a delight it would have been, huh?
I’ll move on to girly movies like When a Man Loves a Woman, Dirty Dancing, Sixteen Candles, and Mermaids. I’ll save Mermaids for last, because I’ll need to make sure everyone is fully asleep before I cry my eyes out. This one, is truly only meant to be watched with Middle and Baby on either side of me on the couch.
Since we’re not together this year, I’ll go it alone.
After I watch a few brother driven family favorites and cry through a few lonely sister movies, I’ll find myself needing to eat something. By something, I mean everything I can find, which is what one does when feeding emotions. Of course, I’ll eat food that reminds me of home. Mostly it’ll be comfort food and then a side of beef, because you don’t come from Middle America and eat fish when missing family, you just don’t.
I’ll make sure I’ve stocked the pantry with chocolate, everything I need to bake my famous chocolate chip cookies, salads with pudding as a main ingredient, pasta with lots of cheese, chips and dip, and a small appearance by Little Debbie’s snacks.
So yeah, it should be fun and you should definitely stick around this week and see how it plays out. It may turn into an on-screen love affair with J.M. Barrie. It could be that my two children will created havoc about the house, like the children in the movie Overboard.
Oh, and I wouldn’t count out the possibility of a dramatic finish: my death by Little Debbie, often a coin flip when I’m not with my siblings for the holidays. I giggle at the thought, yet look forward to my week.
Audrey, you just came by and commented on my Easiest Turkey Recipe Ever. I thought to trot on over here and found this gem of a week vacation. Laughter – you caught me. I would throw in Pretty Woman and Steel Magnolias and Starman. You can cry and be happy. Best yet, you can watch ’em while the turkey is cooking! Best ~ Huntmode
P.S. We redheads stick together!
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Now you’ve made my night! I’m so glad I made you laugh, it was a heck of a trip. Oh yes, great additions for the weekend. 😀
Redheads unite!! So thrilled to have you. I’ve been secretly following you for a while. Mustered up the strength to let you know you were my Thanksgiving miracle! 🙂
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Secretly? Really? I am flattered! I hope you’ll feel comfortable enough to come on back and chat awhile. Grin.
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Well not secretly, in the traditional sense. Just admiring from afar. You’ll be hearing from me more.
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Great! I’ve truly enjoyed our Thanksgiving camaraderie! So tickled the turkey came out well!
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I have as well. Looking forward to keeping in touch. All thanks to your step by step instructions!! 😀
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I have a major attachment to the movie Overboard. I watched it over and over as a kid and now I find it soothing whenever it’s on. And I find myself randomly shouting “Tofutti Klein” every now and then 🙂
Have a wonderful holiday!
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And “Arturo”!! Such a great flick!!
Happy Thanksgiving!
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That actually sounds like a pretty good holiday plan. 🙂
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I know, right!! See my visual as two fingers go from my eyes to yours. LOL Red heads get it. 🙂
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LOL!
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The professor watched Finding Neverland, you know.
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Let me take a deep breath. I’m holding it. Be gentle in your opinion, Duke. You may not be a romantic, but I am.
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If I recall correctly (the professorish mind makes recalling very hard)–and don’t make anything of this, young lady!–it was quite touching.
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You made me hold my breath a long time, Duke.
Quite touching…I’ll take that.
What would I make of it? It’s good to know there is warm blood in you somewhere.
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But it’s all gone now.
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Of course it is. I would expect nothing less.
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It sounds like you will have an exciting week! Good luck with the writing and good luck with the cooking! 🙂
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Thank you, yes it should be full of all sorts of relaxing events.
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Holidays are bittersweet when you miss loved ones…. I think the chocolate should help a little 😉 sending hugs
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They are, especially when we all enjoy each other’s company to such a high degree. I just love them all so much. I think the cookies will do the trick. 😀 Thanks for the hugs!
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Well it all still sounds wonderful….I hope you enjoy your time, and make room for pumpkin pie!!
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Oh yes, it’s nice to unwind with a few movies. I will, you do the same! Enjoy the cool MN frosty weather. It’s cold and rainy here, a bit of sleet in north Houston, we won’t see it down here by the bay. Dang.
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How bittersweet. My mother saw When A man Loves a Woman in the theater and practically had to be carried out by my sister because she was sobbing so much. 🙂 Finding Neverland was super sad as well. What will you do to cheer yourself up?
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All of these will cheer me up, actually. Sick, huh?
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No, I’ve read that somewhere. A good cry makes things better. 🙂
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