Food as identity
It was this year's Thanksgiving that my wife and I reinstated an age old tradition for me; solitude.
During my career in the Air Force, I looked forward to the holidays, not having any commitments to friends or family or to The Mission for a day of quiet reflection. I'm not religious, but I still believe in the power of ritual. A good stiff drink, and a long quiet walk thinking about what's gone right & what's gone wrong during the past year was a perfect way to spend the holiday. My wife prefers the excitement and interaction of preparing and sharing a feast, so she went to a friend's house to help him get ready.
Growing up, the household was always bustling with activity, and I always yearned to get out and go. I'm an adventurer, it's in my DNA. My family was very close, and we had traditional family dinners during the holidays; turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, etc. followed by watching the Dallas Cowboys beating the Detroit Lions. I hate football, but it always seemed to be playing on the tv.
Last year, I went to visit my dying father in LA. I stayed with my sister and cousin in West Hollywood. My sister's boyfriend made modern interpretations of the traditional meal, Turkey with a cajun rub, corn on the cob, and a few other dishes that escaped my notice. I don' remember the other guests, I do remember the old sensation of wanting to escape. so I guess it was just like growing up. No football on tv though.
This year, we were invited to a friend's house. In the afternoon, my wife picked me up, and we went over. It was a family, though nontraditional, but very Bay Area affair. There were several kinds of stuffing; vegetarian, vegan and low carb as well as regular stove-top variety. Vegan Fake turkey was side-by side with a free-range bird. for 12 people, there were 15 bottles of wine.
As we age and grow, we find ways to incorporate our traditions with our current identities. And for that I am very thankful.
During my career in the Air Force, I looked forward to the holidays, not having any commitments to friends or family or to The Mission for a day of quiet reflection. I'm not religious, but I still believe in the power of ritual. A good stiff drink, and a long quiet walk thinking about what's gone right & what's gone wrong during the past year was a perfect way to spend the holiday. My wife prefers the excitement and interaction of preparing and sharing a feast, so she went to a friend's house to help him get ready.
Growing up, the household was always bustling with activity, and I always yearned to get out and go. I'm an adventurer, it's in my DNA. My family was very close, and we had traditional family dinners during the holidays; turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, etc. followed by watching the Dallas Cowboys beating the Detroit Lions. I hate football, but it always seemed to be playing on the tv.
Last year, I went to visit my dying father in LA. I stayed with my sister and cousin in West Hollywood. My sister's boyfriend made modern interpretations of the traditional meal, Turkey with a cajun rub, corn on the cob, and a few other dishes that escaped my notice. I don' remember the other guests, I do remember the old sensation of wanting to escape. so I guess it was just like growing up. No football on tv though.
This year, we were invited to a friend's house. In the afternoon, my wife picked me up, and we went over. It was a family, though nontraditional, but very Bay Area affair. There were several kinds of stuffing; vegetarian, vegan and low carb as well as regular stove-top variety. Vegan Fake turkey was side-by side with a free-range bird. for 12 people, there were 15 bottles of wine.
As we age and grow, we find ways to incorporate our traditions with our current identities. And for that I am very thankful.
posted by mediavore at
5:14 PM
1 Comments:
I love to see the many different ways that people celebrate a holiday. Cajun rub? I think I might try that next year!!
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