I never should have been trusted with the turkey. I was defrosting it in the sink and fell asleep early and the cold water it was in all drained out of the sink and now I’m worried everyone is going to get sick if I cook the damn thing tomorrow and when I googled, “is a turkey safe to eat if it was left in the sink thawing all night and the water seeped out of the sink”, google was no help at all. So I’m waiting until A Decent Hour so I can call my mother and she can talk me down from this I’m Cooking My First Thanksgiving Freak Out and hopefully tell me it’ll all be OK and the stupid bird won’t make us sick if I cook it long and hot tomorrow because it was frozen solid as a brick and needed time to thaw anyway. Shit. I didn’t mean to mess up already. Good morning, by the way…*I’m still cussin’ in my head* ~ Janean

I’m buying a frozen turkey today.

A big one. 

It’s my first time makin’ Thanksgiving. 

Well, half of it. 

My mother in law is bringin’ side dishes

(her specialties), and pies for dessert.

My mother is coaching over the phone. 

My family will be fed turkey and assorted fixings.

No time for writin’ poetry in the preparations. 

No time for makin’ art. 

Gettin’ groceries, cleanin’ and cookin’ await. 

I Am So Not A Domestic Goddess. 

I can hit the high points and do my best.

No white gloves allowed. 

Laundry washed, folded and put away.

Pantry, fridge and freezer stocked.

Family fed on clean plates (not paper ones).

But chaos usually reigns supreme.

Here’s hopin’ what they remember, 

after Thanksgiving day, is good food,

the laughter from stories told,

and the warm glow of Family Time.

Three generations.

Together.

Two days to go and counting…

until we say, “Happy Thanksgiving!”

sitting around a table laden with food

prepared with love.

© 2011 Turquoise Tangles

the night before last

I dreamt of a field of blue poppies

vivid in the moonlight

along the path I walked

in India

my first international dream

© 2011 Turquoise Tangles