By John Fee
The Bartlett Express and Cordova Beacon
This year we broke with tradition, and it was one of the best Thanksgivings Vickie and I have had in years.
We both have jobs with crazy schedules, running here and there. So, we either just drop in on each other with a moment's -- or no -- notice and grab something to eat or just spend a little time together.
This year, the week or so leading up to Thanksgiving was even more hectic than usual, and there was our annual tradition looming ahead -- Vickie's celebrated sweet potato casserole.
Our tradition starts the week before Thanksgiving when I ask Vickie if she is taking her much-anticipated casserole to her parents' home for the holiday feast. I then ask her if she is going to buy the sweet potatoes a few days before, so we're (meaning I'm) not left rushing around at the last minute trying to find the elusive tuber.
Of course she will, she says.
For a few days that conversation will be forgotten. Then I'll ask the question again and she'll provide the traditional answer, of course she will.
Part of our tradition is that I plan to leave work early the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. This follows with me leaving work late that day after Vickie calls and asks me pick up some sweet potatoes on my way home.
There's much more to our annual ritual. However, I'll conclude for now with my search from store to store, purchasing couple here, another few there, for enough of the rare root to make the two casseroles, as usual.
This year, low and behold Wednesday rolled around and I was ready to leave work, not early, but not late. I called Vickie and asked her the dreaded question and she answered: "I'm not making the sweet potato casserole this year, I'm buying a cheese log at the store for us to snack on while we wait for dinner to be ready."
It was as if the heavens had parted and a chorus of angels sang my release from this annual potato purgatory. No searching from store to store, no peeling potato after potato, no shredding and shredding and shredding.
Instead, we went for hamburgers at Burger Junction and a movie at the $2.50 theater. Because we were so full from the big burgers, we broke with our movie tradition of sharing a giant buttered popcorn and Diet Coke. Ladies, don't be jealous.
After the movie, we went across the street to Kroger to purchase our part of the fabulous feast, the cheese log and an assortment of fancy crackers. I took a quick pass through the produce section and spotted a pile of sweet potatoes that would have to go to some other happy home. I quickly averted my eyes and pushed the cart a little faster.
Soon we were in the checkout line, where carts were crushed with loads of groceries to be prepared for other families' feasts. We didn't mind waiting, because we didn't have much else to do that evening -- or the next morning as well.
With no alarm set, we awoke the next morning in time to watch a good part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade on television. Then we were off to see the gathered family and stuff ourselves with turkey and dressing. (The cheese log, by the way, was a hit. Everyone seemed pleased to have something to nosh on without getting a hand slapped).
For our family and feast as well as a no-stress holiday, we give our thanks.