1. What is your favorite Thanksgiving show/animated show? I don't really have a favorite Thanksgiving show, but I do like to catch at least a few minutes of each televised parade (Chicago's and New York's).
2. What is there about Thanksgiving you like the best? The feasting! When I was a kid, and my icky grandmother hosted Thanksgiving, there was always so much tension. She really didn't enjoy preparing the meal but insisted on doing it because it was tradition. You could try to help her, but I promise you that you were doing whatever it was wrong and making everything harder for her. By the time we sat down to eat, I wished I was anywhere else.
After she died, my kid sister took over the tradition ... including the martyrdom. She wanted to host Thanksgiving at her house -- so her kids would have those memories -- but then she wanted her husband to be able to have dessert with his family, at his mother's house, so we had to be done by a certain time. It was a lot of pressure for a mother with little kids. I remember recommending a restaurant near her in-law's home or letting Boston Market at least handle the sides, but no. Tradition. Again, I felt like she was begrudging me every mouthful because I took so long to chew! I would have gone elsewhere, but I didn't because it was important to me to spend the day with mother. I went where she went.
Since my mom died, I've been having what my friend John calls "Orphan Thanksgiving." I guess now we could call it Friendsgiving. John, Gregory and I get dressed up, meet at a restaurant, enjoy a leisurely meal and are grateful for what we have. This year, we're dining at the Millennium Park Grill, which will give us a lovely opportunity to see Chicago's official Christmas tree, and to watch all the skaters twirling around on the rink. I'll linger over good food and not worry about doing anything wrong in the kitchen!
3. Favorite Thanksgiving/holiday song? I love so many Christmas songs! But this morning, I'll choose "Silent Night."
4. If you have an all holiday music radio station when do you start listening to it? I don't switch to the station that plays 24/7 holiday music. But I'll begin listening to carols on Friday. Love them!
