Wednesday, November 22, 2006

All That and a Fully Cooked Turkey

A couple years ago, when my sister moved away for the first time and I was visiting her in her new Kentucky home, we attempted to cook our first solo Thanksgiving dinner. Yes, we had each other but my expertise was green bean casserole, her's mashed potatoes and neither of us had done anything but eat turkey before that day- never pulled out the insides, never greased it up, never even basted. We had to do it, though. We had to pretend life was the same and things hadn't changed, that we could still eat turkey and act like we lived in the bubble of our little family, a bubble that had been stretched over a thousand miles.



What we lacked in experience, we made up for in research and planning, though. Thank heaven and earth for that, because when I called my sister three days before and told her to take the turkey out of the freezer and put it in the refrigerator, she asked me "why?" with a seriousness in her voice that had me imagining us eating our turkey for breakfast the following Friday. Later, she would be just as panicked for me as she said she needed a meat thermometer and I asked "why?" How we staved off e-coli that year, I'll never know.



Talking to her the other night, I knew that we'd never have a frozen turkey at her house, again. In addition to me, she's hosting another eight or so people at her house with the possibility of more. She's not worried a bit and plans to cook all day without, and I quote, "missing any of the football or beer." (We are definitely related.) I'm so proud of her for everything she's done and how far she's come. She continues to grow and amaze me with the choices she makes and the approach she uses in life. As an older sister, I don't know what makes me more proud: the fact that she can do it all or the fact that she believes she can.



Happy Thanksgiving, sister. I love you and I'll see you soon.


12 comments:

Backofpack said...

A beautiful post - memories and a tribute to your sister.

I forgot to take the insides out of both my first and second turkey. I haven't cooked a third, because since I turned vegetarian, everyone is afraid I'll serve tofurky. I have hosted Christmas's though - and I make my husband cook the meat. I'm killer on the mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and pies though!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy every moment with your sister!

justacoolcat said...

Happy Turkey Day Eve! Nice post, I hope your sis reads it.

Legs and Wings said...

My sister-in-law always throws her turkey in the oven straight from the freezer...frozen bag-o-guts and all. She claims it stays nice and moist that way. I guess it can be done.

Good memories for you and your sister. I hope you have a great weekend.

Gil said...

Happy Thanksgiving.

Wishing you well.

gil

skinnylittleblonde said...

Sisters are the best!
Happy Thanksgiving & I hope you get to see her soon, real soon.
peace & love

Sizzle said...

i feel like that about my little sis too. i'm so proud of her, even the little things. what a great photo!

happy thanksgiving!!

Runner Girl FL said...

I cooked my first turkey upside down! NOW that is the "thing" to do. It was the moistest turkey we ever had.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Ginger Breadman said...

wow - really cool photo. you do an amazing job of describing the feelings of the relationship you have with your sister. Happy Thanksgiving!

Sister Buckle said...

Wow! A picture of you and your sister! Cool!
I would say "Happy Thanksgiving" but I don't really know what it's about. I should Google it :)

Anonymous said...

That was absolutely adorable! Must be something in the turkey that makes older sisters feel particularly sisterly!

anne said...

I love sisterly love - have a Happy One.

Danielle said...

Ah, isn't cooking a turkey for the first time fun? I remember the one and only time I did, but thankfully I'd seen my mom do it often enough that I wasn't too worried...and it even came out edible!!