I managed to make the rounds of all six
fire stations yesterday. We fried some
extra turkeys so we could take some to each of the stations for the guys on
duty to enjoy. As usual they were all
appreciative of the expression of our love for them. None more so, however, than the guys at
station four. They immediately started
digging in to the bag to “test it for edibl-ility.” As I recall, they did the same thing last
year. Finally Kevin admitted that they
had been to Kroger earlier in the morning and were horrified to find that they
had no turkeys that were already thawed out.
They did get one of those huge spiral hams, but he was aghast to think
of Thanksgiving without turkey. “I’m
just a turkey kind of guy,” was his take on the whole matter. Glad you got some turkey, Kevin.
By the time I got home the meal was pretty
much ready and warming in the oven. All
that was left to make was some gravy for the cornbread dressing. Well, that and … NOBODY HAD ARRIVED. It was after noon. I had been up since 5:30. It was time to eat. I did my best to tough it out and wait for
some family foot traffic, but that just wasn’t working. I finally succumbed to the delicious aroma
and snuck a few chunks of ham to tide me over.
Finally Nathan and Cailyn walked in.
His word of greeting? “So when do
we eat?” My words of response, “Whenever
someone gets here. Oh, wait. You’re here.
Let’s eat ... now.” I guess Chris
sensed the urgency in my voice, even though I was in such a weakened state from
my too-long imposed Thanksgiving Day hunger.
She began unloading the ovens and making the gravy. Before she got everything out, Kel got here
with almost all of his children. Josiah
had been sick the night before, so he was destined to spend the entire day
alone with just him and Mommy. Broke his
heart. After an obligatory trip to the clinic
for a strep test, he was forced to have a Thanksgiving meal at Whataburger. He discovered the gravy is really good, though. I understand he finagled a trip to Bucees as
well. Not to mention more Netflix movies
than he knew even existed. I have a
suspicion that video games might have been involved in his incarceration
repertoire as well. Poor Josiah. I think he might just be disappointed to have
to come to Nana and DadDad’s today.
After the first round of food was “tested,” Bryan and Jennifer
arrived. And later on April came over
after her day’s sleep was done (she works nights at the emergency room). Rounds two and three and perhaps four of food
tasting went well. Testing for that
nasty chemical in turkey that makes you drowsy proved inconclusive. Nathan and I certainly fell victim to its wily
ways. I suppose everyone else was too
interested in the fate of Tony Romo and the Cowboys to give in. We’ll have to do more testing. Perhaps around noon.
I managed to stay awake for most of the Texas
Tech vs. Texas football game. Pretty
wild shoot-out. Lots of scoring. Tech came out on top. It was fun.
We closed out the evening by staying awake until Josh and Christi
returned from their obligatory Black Friday midnight jaunt to WalMart. The sales all started at six, but I think
there is just something in Christi’s blood that requires a late-night shopping
extravaganza at least once a year. Hope
they were successful.
James 4:15 says, “Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord's will, we will live and
do this or that.’”
Father, thank you. Amen.
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