Unusual Holidays

“Do you see that little white plastic thingy?” she asked. “Well, when that thing pops up, the turkey is done.” 

“How does it know?” I asked. 

“I don’t know,” she said. “It just does.” 

My brother and I looked at each other and shrugged. 

“Why don’t you go play, and come back later to check on the turkey,” Mom said. 

We scampered out of the kitchen and into the family room. We didn’t even noticing Dad getting up from the dining room table and striding into the kitchen. 

About 15 minutes later, Mom yelled, “John! Jerry!” 

“Yeah, Mom?” we replied. 

“It’s time to check the turkey again.” 

Tearing into the kitchen, we saw Dad leaning against the refrigerator, watching, as Mom flipped on the oven light again and said, “Check the little plastic thingy.” 

Again, we looked through the glass at the turkey, then our mouths flew open. 

“Mom, didn’t you see the little white plastic thingy?” I asked. 

“You shrunk the turkey!” Jerry said. 

Our parents immediately started laughing. Then Mom grabbed an oven mitt, opened the oven door, and reached in and pulled out a Cornish game hen. Still laughing, Dad took the turkey from a kitchen cabinet and returned it to the oven. 

Some three hours later, we feasted on turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, fresh vegetables – and a Cornish game hen. 

John - Hilton Head, South Carolina 

Three Celebrations Lumped into One ‘Traditional’ Party  

We were in Great Britain for a wedding in 2006 and stayed a few extra days to celebrate a friend’s birthday, which was on our American Thanksgiving Day.