Not Quite Table-Ready!
Some years ago,when I was nine, I wrote a story called “The Naked Turkey” for the Children’s section of the Oakland Tribune. It was my first published work and was life-changing — but not in a way you might imagine. You can read it in my blog of November 21, 2010 at: https://sydneyofoysterville.com/2010/the-naked-turkey-or-how-i-came-to-realize-that-i-couldnt-write-fiction/
This year I ventured forth on my first solo trip without Nyel as navigator and, amazingly (and among a few other disasters) that naked bird came back to haunt me. (Actually, it appeared in all its glory to my Thanksgiving hostess, Kuzzin Kris.)
There had been a bit of a premonition about how this holiday would go. When I took my lunch break at the Salem Rest Stop, my GPS stopped working. “Never mind,” thought I. “I have Kris’s very clear written directions for which freeway exit, off ramps etc. to take me to her new apartment in Beautiful Downtown Eugene.”
Not As Simple As It Appears
Of course, I didn’t think about how I might keep one eye on the road and the other on the rather complicated directions which, I soon gave up and just got the hell off the converging on, off and who-know-what ramps as fast as possible. I ended up in a HUGE GoodWill parking lot and a lovely young woman talked on my cell phone to Kris and explained…
That was Wednesday. On Thursday, we”scratched-and-laughed” and got ready for Kris’s friend. Judy, who was joining us for dinner. No cooking, though. The entire meal, turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and even brussel sprouts with garlic would be ready for pick-up at Safeway at three o’clock. Kris, in full hostess mode, went by herself to pick up the meal in her little red wagon.
It seemed to take a long time and, when she returned, Kris was a bit subdued. Apparently all the accoutrements were cooked to perfection but the turkey was not only naked but totally raw. A discussion ensued (as you might imagine). Kris had been gone from Eugene for several years and during the interim Safeway had stopped offering cooked turkeys. Which prompted a lot of questions like then why offer a full Thanksgiving meal ready to eat??? Time for such deep marketing examination was limited however…
Kris And Her Handy-Dandy Little Red Wagon
“But what shall I do?” she asked the clerks (who I think by this time had gathered ’round in sympathy.) “How about chicken?” someone said. “We have both roasted and fried and we could cut them up and give you the portions you’d like of each kind…”
“Done!” said Kris! And I have to say that it was the best Thanksgiving Turkey-less dinner ever! Topped off by two pies and then a visit to another friend’s place for two more pies.
I’m sure there were lessons learned, as well. But, really… who cares? We were replete!