Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…
Through the years, the Dahlgren family has learned to roll with the punches, go with the flow, and take calamities in stride. Our children have become very adept at adapting quickly. If you read my book Zorro and Me, you will see they’ve had lots of practice. Well, this Thanksgiving was no exception.
After over a year of our family being separated with COVID restrictions, this was the first time we would all be together. I was so excited! It would be a whole week of activities which started with our grandson Dakota and his girlfriend flying in for the weekend. They are part of a dance troupe called On2ourage which would be performing for several nights in San Francisco. Our daughter Sherisa would come on Sunday and stay through Thanksgiving. The rest of the family live locally and would be in and out of the house all week.
The fun started the day Dakota arrived. The main light in our kitchen went out. We thought we would have to replace it, but then the upstairs and downstairs bathroom lights went out, along with the stair and hallway lights. Fortunately, the outlets and all the other lights in the house worked. It wasn’t the circuit breaker. We knew an electrician was needed, but we thought we could get through the holiday with lamps in all the rooms requiring light. Nothing like a little ambiance when you need to cook or take a shower.
Speaking of showers, on Thanksgiving morning the upstairs shower got stuck and would not stop running. Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink because we had to turn the water in the house off. The only solution was to take the faucet out of the shower. We decided to wait until after the holiday to call a plumber since everyone could still use the downstairs shower.
While the water was off, we were having a kitchen crisis. Our daughter Shelly was trying a new turkey recipe which called for parchment paper to cover the bird while cooking. After about twenty minutes, a noxious odor came from the oven. When we peeked in to see, we discovered that the parchment paper was on fire. We closed it quickly while Zorro grabbed a fire extinguisher. When we opened it again, thankfully the fire was out.
There was ash residue on the turkey, so we decided to rinse it off and try, try again — this time with tin foil. But wait, the water was turned off so how could we rinse it? I grabbed a gallon container of distilled water I had on hand and we scrubbed Mr. Turkey clean. Back in the oven he went.
To add to the festivities, my knee decided to “go out” which it inconveniently does every few years. So I’m hobbling around on a cane. Sherisa’s greyhound and Matthew’s Chiweenie dog are trying to adjust to each other. I could go on but I think you get the idea…
Needless to say, our Thanksgiving dinner was two hours late. However, the turkey was done to perfection as well as all the side dishes. Navigating family dinners is not as easy as it used to be, but all our vegans, gluten free, and FODMAP people had a feast.
And boy, were we thankful! This may qualify as the most memorable Dahlgren family Thanksgiving EVER! The food was delicious. The family was fun! God is good!
P.S. We are also thankful for the plumbers and electricians who are scheduled to come this week.
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“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)
