Getting Ready

It's the mince pie that does it for me, that rich, cinnamon and clove mixture with apple and raisins. It makes my mouth water just thinking about it. 

Mother made mince pies just twice during the year, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I knew it was the real deal when that magical aroma filled the air. The pies, cakes and desserts were generally prepared early in the week. We were a one oven household. The turkey and fix-in's were baked on Thanksgiving Day along with the yeast rolls. 

Care was taken to have dinner so that it would not interfere with the football game, Detroit and Green Bay or Chicago would play and set the stage for postprandial lethargy. We didn't know it was from the tryptophan in the turkey at the time.

Then, of course, all the family would gather in a house far too small to accommodate the crowd but no one seemed to mind. It was good to be together and share the smells and sounds and love together. I'm looking forward to it. I know you are too. These are the good times. 

And honey, if you don't like this, you don't like ice cream.

©Herb Ratliff, November 22, 2011, All Rights Reserved