OPINION

GUEST COMMENTARY

A traditional
Thanksgiving Day
Gobble. Gobble. day between the
Turkey Day is upon Underdog and Big
us. Thanksgiving is Bird balloons.
my favorite holiday. Fortunately, my par-
No gifts involved. ents made it to the
No need for politi- hospital where we
cal correctness. It’s shared my favorite
just the three “F’s” Thanksgiving Day
— food, family and together.
football. Football. The NFL
Food. While most came up with a mar-
of you are pouring Mike Neiman keting ploy years ago
over your recipes and now it has
preparing for the perfect feast, become ingrained in the day’s
I have fond childhood memo- festivities. But why the same
ries of the Betty Crocker ver- teams every year? Detroit.
sion of Thanksgiving dinner. It Dallas. Does it get much
was a much simpler time. We worse? The NFL has a captive
did not have the Food audience and knows we’ll
Network or domestic divas watch whatever they toss us.
like Martha instructing us. So grin and bear it.
My mother has many tal- One thing I find missing
ents, but cooking is not one of from Thanksgiving every year
them. That certainly does not is what the holiday is sup-
stop her. On our menu, posed to be about. No, not the
besides the thawed out turkey, Pilgrims and the Indians
was Stovetop stuffing, the breaking bread before slaugh-
famous Durkee green bean tering each other, but taking
casserole, canned cranberry time to be grateful for what we
sauce, yams and pineapple have.
with marshmallows melted on That may be tough as 2009
top and of course the lime hasn’t been a banner year.
Jell-O mold. Throw in the The economic meltdown hit
Pillsbury Crescent rolls and a our savings and home values.
Sarah Lee cheesecake and the Our village and schools are
table was set. Do you feel your hurting, too. Don’t be sur-
arteries hardening about prised to see Village President
now? Over the years, the Tom Cauley picking up pen-
menu changed as the next nies from the sidewalks. Plus,
generation shared the cooking we have a flu pandemic to
duties. But left on her own, boot. And now, Oprah tells us
my mom would gladly go she’s leaving. How much
back to her old-fashioned more can we take?
meal. When you gather around
Family. Isn’t family what the table tomorrow, just think
Thanksgiving is all about? We about what you have in your
put away petty differences as life. While that may include
well as dysfunctions and processed food, crazy relatives
attempt to get along for a day. and bad football, I’m betting
Typically it works, until the your list is much longer with
wine starts flowing. things you really are grateful
This Thanksgiving will be for.
the first year not spent with Happy Thanksgiving!
my family. We did miss the — Mike Neiman of Hinsdale is
lavish dinner back in 2000. My a contributing columnist.
daughter, Madison, decided to Readers can e-mail him at
make her grand entrance that news@thehinsdalean.com.

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The Hinsdalean • November 26, 2009 • Page 11