Thanksgiving

What a wonderful Thanksgiving!  It turned out the upstate Pennsy guys were able to come down after all.  T. still has a cough and R., in particular, was draggy, but they aren't deathly ill, so we were all glad they came.  When I walked in about 3:00, the six were posed on and around the couch, the four boys in Santa hats, having Christmas pictures taken by the resident photographer.  I was asked to get in one and happily posed with them.
Brent, brother of the man in the house, soon arrived and we had veggie with dip appetizers while the turkey was being patted down.  J. had brought his turkey fryer and, soon, the bird was lowered into sixteen (?) gallons of vegetable oil. While it cooked, the adults talked around the table in the kitchen.  After a time, I joined the boys in another room and played Sorry with T. and R., while simultaneously operating the spinner and calling out the results for J.and J.'s Twister game. What fun it was to be with children again!  The boys are so friendly and pleasant and they get along very well. 
Big J. and N. look great; after quitting smoking (hurray!), both had gained weight, but recently, took much of it off.  J., who often tries new configurations of facial hair, now has a kind of squared-off beard that we all agreed make him look like a young rabbi. 
We were pleased to get a phone call from Ellen, which morphed into a two-screen Skype call with her in California and Mike and the two little girls in London.  The connection was problematic, though, and after exchanging Thanksgiving greetings, I asked them to call back on the weekend.
The turkey cooked in about 45 minutes, then was rested for 20 or so, after which we sat down about 5:00.  Dinner was just superb.  Seems to me that birds cooked in fryers are more flavorful and moist than the oven roasted ones and this was no exception.  Sides included luscious mashed potatoes, glorious gravy, two kinds of stuffing, string bean casserole, corn pudding, homemade cranberry sauce, and banana bread, all homemade. What a feast!
After a leisurely meal and good talk, coffee was served along with my apple and pumpkin pies, which everyone enjoyed.  (When J. asked little R. if he wanted "Cool Whip" on his pie, I yelled from the kitchen in mock horror that it was real whipped cream, for heaven's sake.)  N. had brought a peach pie and brownies, so they were sampled, too. 
When dessert was almost finished, I brought out the little square of chocolate cake I had gotten from Acme and to which I had added two candles.  We sang "Happy Birthday" to the celebrants (today is their joint birthday, 20 years apart).  They liked their (modest) presents--both  bracelets--we had coffee and then I kissed everyone goodbye after a great Thanksgiving.
Oh, yes, yes, I have every reason to be thankful, first and foremost for the family I'm lucky enough to have.