Family, gathering and memory as the root of our important stories
Share holiday traditions and come see me at Barnes & Noble, Lehigh Valley Mall, (December 8) and Palmer Library (December 11)
When I think of Thanksgiving, my thoughts go back to when I was about ten-years-old. The family would gather at my grandparents’ (Nana and Pop Pop) house.
We squeezed around the dining room table waiting for my Nana, Aunt Jenny, and my mom to bring in the traditional feast. This meal included cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, stuffing, assorted vegetables, side dishes, and the glorious turkey. After a short prayer, the plates were piled high with food and the eating began.
That’s when Uncle Al, who sat directly across from me, would wiggle his ears. Al had ears like Bing Crosby.
Uncle Al would stop eating and give me this curious stare which caused me to stare back. A little smile came upon his face and his right ear would wiggle. Then, just his left ear would wiggle. Then, both ears wiggled.
This would start me giggling, and if I had food in my mouth, it seemed I would giggle all the more.
Mashed potatoes would leak out of my mouth.
That is when my mom, who sat to the left of me, would turn and say, “What are you giggling about? Sit up at the table and eat your food.”
Uncle Al would wiggle his ears at a rapid pace. I would drop my head so I couldn’t see him and continue to giggle even more.
My mom would lean over and whisper in my left ear. The volume of the whisper was a normal whisper, but the tone was absolute shouting.
“This is ridiculous,” she said. “Now stop this and eat your food. Don’t act so dumb!”
I giggled some more.
Mom pointed her fork at me.
“What’s wrong with you?” she asked.
I quickly swallowed. “Nothing.”
Then, she gave me this serious, hairy eyeball look— that let you know she was really irritated.
My uncle knew it, too. You could just about hear my Aunt Jenny whisper in a disturbed voice, “Al.”
My uncle turned toward my aunt with a dumbfounded look as if to say, What?
Things went back to normal, as if nothing happened between my uncle and me. Most of the family at the dinner table never even knew that it took place. We went on eating our meal and enjoying Thanksgiving until the desserts came to the table.
As I was putting a piece of pumpkin pie in my mouth, this devilish grin came across my uncle’s face, and he gave his ears a wiggle. But this time, I just smiled and giggled within myself.
I never told on my uncle and we never spoke about it. It was our mischievous secret.
I know Nana, Mom and Aunt Jenny strived for the perfect Thanksgiving dinner, and it was always more than perfect even if some things were flawed.
The pursuit of the perfect often keeps us from the wonderful.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at this special personality test I designed specifically for this holiday.
Thanksgiving Personality Test
We sometimes experience Providence or Divine Grace, a gift to our heart and spirit which most of the time, we accept without question.
On the other hand, gratitude is a choice. We must choose to be grateful. Gratitude is a conscious thought that says:
Yes, I appreciate and I’m thankful for this part of my life.
Now on to the test…
Which are you more thankful for?
Circle the answer in column A or in column B.
1. Would you rather eat Thanksgiving dinner A. at home or B. in a restaurant?
2. Would you rather eat with A. family or B. friends?
3. Would you rather eat A. turkey or B. ham?
4. Would you rather eat A. mashed potatoes or B. sweet potatoes?
5. Would you rather eat A. filling or B. stuffing?
6. Would you rather eat A. cranberry sauce or B. applesauce?
7. Would you rather eat A. green bean casserole or B. ambrosia?
8. Would you rather eat A. macaroni and cheese or B. spaghetti and meatballs?
9. Would you rather eat A. peas or B. carrots?
10. Would you rather eat A. pumpkin pie or B. apple pie?
11. Would you rather watch A. football or B. the Thanksgiving Day parade?
12. Would you rather A. wash the dishes or B. dry the dishes?
13. After dinner would you rather A. walk in the woods or B. take a nap?
14. Are you thankful for A. health or B. wealth?
15. Are you grateful that A. you are loved or B. that you can love somebody else?
If most of your answers were from column A then you have a Thanksgiving Type A personality.
If most of your answers were from column B then you have a Thanksgiving Type B personality.
If most of your answers were pretty even between As and Bs or it was hard for you to choose, you might want to think about having two Thanksgiving dinners!
If you read this far without doing the test then you are definitely a Turkey!
Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Barbara and I are extremely grateful for friends like you.
God bless, have fun, and always keep some gratitude within your heart!
— Larry
Larry Sceurman, the author of nostalgic fiction COFFEE IN THE MORNING and THE DEATH OF BIG BUTCH, will present his new dyslexia-friendly children’s book BOOKWORM’S MAGICAL JOURNEY at the Palmer Branch of the Easton Area Public Library on December 11 at 6 p.m. Registration is now open. Register at: eastonpl.org/EAPLCalend….
If you have plans to visit the Lehigh Valley Mall this holiday season, consider visiting Barnes & Noble to see Larry and buy a signed and personalized copy of his book.
You can get those Barnes & Noble loyalty points ordering the book online, too! Click here to see all of Larry’s titles on the Barnes & Noble website.
BOOKWORM’S MAGICAL JOURNEY uses whimsical characters to break down the concepts of learning to read. The book also will be available for sale at the library event, or via Larry, at Easton’s Book & Puppet Company downtown or at the Blue Flame Events Retail Store at the Palmer Park Mall. (And, of course, all your favorite online retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, bookshop.org, etc.)
