Thursday, November 3, 2011

Thanksgiving



Day three of NaNoWriMo: I am getting into a rhythm of writing early in the morning and last thing at night. It's so much fun! My protagonist is a criminal, I think - or maybe a spy - not sure yet. Writing in this way is as fun as lucid dreaming, as fun as a feel-good trance. No wonder writer's block is such a miserable experience. Fiction writing is very intoxicating; of course people become addicted. When they can't write, well, whoa! It can't be fun.

The holiday season is upon us. Hence, yesterday I ordered an "heirloom" turkey. Marketing people are truly nefarious - I mean really, "heirloom?" Like a tomato or a rose? What it means is that the turkey is a regular bird, not bred like most commercial turkeys. My holiday turkey will not be built like Jane Mansfield, will not topple over onto its face because it is so grotesquely breast-heavy. This makes me happy. There are those who claim that "heirloom" turkeys are tough and not as delicious as commercial turkeys. I don't care. There are 25 restaurants within a few blocks of the chateau. If dinner doesn't turn out, we can abandon it, go out.

Slinging hundreds of raw turkeys at surly customers, a part of my job as catering coordinator when I worked at Whole Foods, turned me into a T-day Scrooge. For years afterwards on Thanksgiving I stayed home, ate rice and vegetables - alone - and watched Hugh Grant movies. Fortunately, I've let go of my grudge against the holiday, slowly, over time. Last year and the year before I attended the feasts of others, surprised myself by having fun. This year I will plunge deeper into the feng shui of the holiday by cooking and entertaining here at the chateau. I very much look forward to it.

Yesterday the Sufi acupuncturist said he sees me happy, productive, and healthy during the decade of my 60s. He said he sees me really coming into myself in the decade to come. Indeed I am happier and healthier in many ways than I've ever been, and I'm not even 59 yet. What a great blessing he gave me, promising me a wonderful decade ahead.

Life is good and I am grateful! Hence, the "heirloom" turkey, a feast at the chateau. Onwards to T-day. Oh yeah.


This pic is for Annie, home from the hospital, thank God.

6 comments:

Angela said...

Dear Reya, Thanksgiving is such a nice idea, so it should be celebrated properly, with bird or rice, but mainly with friends.
And yes yes, turning sixty and more is such FUN! Me too I am healthy and high spirited and feel I know myself and can share my cheerfulness. Can I send you a few of my photos on the playground? Just look forward, it will surprise you how GOOD you`ll feel at sixty.

glnroz said...

it is interesting to see where the imagination will go, ain't it? And goodness how slow the word count builds up. I am requesting the first autograph copy of your finished product,,,reckon? lol

ellen abbott said...

What more could you ask for? A real turkey and an excellent decade to come.

Steve Reed said...

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, precisely because it is so much more low-key than almost any other. But then, I never worked in catering! I hope you have a great cooking experience!

Reya Mellicker said...

Steve if you were here, you would be invited. In fact, you ARE invited, though I doubt you'll hop on a plane just to enjoy an "heirloom" turkey. Waaaaa

Tom said...

luckily I've got a lot of family around to keep me 'happy' over the holidays - i certainly know what you mean about working in retail and how it can kill the holiday spirit.