Thursday, November 27, 2025 – Day 471

Thursday, November 27, 2025

Good morning, everyone. Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃🍽

Safe travels to all of you hitting the road today.

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. Yes, it’s a day of pure gluttony, but for me the joy has always been in the traditions…the familiar dishes, the smells that drift through the house, and the people gathered around the table. And for the record, when I say “variety of dishes,” I’m not talking dinnerware… although that was definitely Sally’s thing.

We celebrated Thanksgiving in lots of places over the years, but when I was growing up it was always the same: 1922, with my Aunt Generose (my dad’s sister), both grandparents, an aunt, and often a priest from St. Anastasia Catholic Church. Thirteen kids. Eight adults. That was the baseline—year after year.

The table setup changed a little depending on the crowd, but there were always two tables: the adults and the kids. The older children were “promoted” to the adult table as openings became available… and with six kids ahead of me, that promotion took forever. It was all about attrition and patience.

Sally cooked two enormous turkeys every year, jam-packed with dressing (the best part). They went in the oven early in the morning and cooked all day. We never ate before 6:30, so those birds had 8–9 hours to become… let’s say well done.

Lis was the assigned sous chef in those early years, the price of being the oldest, so the job fell to her. And when it was finally time to eat, we’d pack into the dining room (or as close as we could get) to say grace. Then came the slow, meticulous ritual of Dad carving the turkey at the table and serving each plate one by one. Norman Rockwell would have loved it. The rest of us? We were starving.

As the years went by, faces changed. Some passed, some moved away, and new friends and spouses found their seats at the table—the Durkin ladies, the Delphenis family, and yes, even Bill Brolley made the guest list more than once. The two-table setup remained, and eventually—finally—I made it to the adult table. I don’t think that happened until the mid-’90s, when I was in my early thirties.

These memories mean more to me now than ever. Thanksgiving, at its core, has always been about family coming together and giving thanks. Today we may not have two tables, but the heart of it—the gratitude, the laughter, the love…is just as strong as it ever was.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving wherever you’re celebrating and whatever you’re serving. May your birds be fully cooked, your sides finish at the same time, and your day be filled with warmth.

We’re breaking tradition this year and having ham.

I’m grateful for everyone in our life, for the joy in our home, and for the abundance of love that surrounds us. I raise a glass to my family, my friends, and all of you who have become part of Andy’s Army. I love you guys. ❤️

Photos