Tonight I left work a little early and
headed to the big supermarket in Clapham Junction to get the last remaining
items for my contribution to for Thanksgiving Dinner tomorrow.
Last year I hosted the event for about 20
people in my tiny city-sized flat and despite the lack of seats or a table
(which had to be removed to fit more bodies) we had a great time. And I swore
I’d never do it again! My whole body ached from lifting the 17 pound turkey in
and out of the oven every 10 minutes to bask it because I’d turned it into
flames (actual flames in my oven) in the first five minutes of cooking and was
terrified of ruining it and subsequently the day for everyone coming. (And I
don’t even like turkey!)
This year the sympathy for putting on the
special day goes to an American friend whose taken on the task of feeding 18 of
her closest friends and American “stragglers” and I am thankful for her! I’m
providing a double batch of Mac and Cheese and Buckeyes as a dessert nibble. I
made the long (ok, 15 minutes by bus but its out of the way) trek to Junction
in search of Monterrey Jack cheese at the only place I thought I might be able
to find it. Wrong again – Monterrey Jack does not exist in this country – even
at the British Wal-Mart!
Still the trip proved to be quite
entertaining as I observed other Americans in the same “last minute
Thanksgiving Day” shopping panic as me! Armed with long lists and full buggies,
I watched, as they’d pick up a possible substitute to the particular item they
were looking for and contemplate; Pick up the item. “Is this ok?” Put down the
item. Google it. Pick it up a different item. Put it down. Pick up the first
item again. A simple headshake which clearly means, “guess we’ll see” and into
the buggy it goes!
And I wasn’t the only one to notice the
behavior …
Conversation # 1: Large British man to
confused American woman
Brit: “Getting ready for Christmas dinner?”
Woman: “Oh no! This is for Thanksgiving … I
hope…”
Conversation # 2: American wife to British
husband
Wife: “I think this is what we need. Is
this what we need?”
Hubby just shrugs: “I don’t know what its
for”
Wife: “Ok flour. Which one? I think it’s
this one … “ and picks up largest bag of flour
Hubby: “Just get a small one – wait –
what’s it for?”
Wife: “Ok small. It’s just for the gravy, I
think. Lets go over the list. Cranberries – check. Flour – check … “
As I walked out of earshot of the
conversation I couldn’t help but smile. This year I don’t feel like I’m the
only one preparing for Thanksgiving in a far away land. We’re all in this
together!
On Sunday, we had our first Thanksgiving
with my oldest London friend and her partner. The two of us reminisced about
our first Thanksgiving here in 2010. It was so hard, many tears and a few too
many bottles of wine! We giggled at the old dramatic versions of ourselves and
praised each other at how far we’ve come.
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I’m
typically homesick around this time of year, but this year has been different.
This year, despite current struggles, I feel settled. Most importantly, this
year I’m thankful because I’ve realized where ever I am, I can and will make it
my home.
