What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food?

I like a full beige plate with a touch of orange and gravy on top of the turkey, stuffing and potatoes. It’s the combination that I enjoy. If I was going to single out one item it would be the candied yams with marshmallows on top. Bottom left photo.

What’s the happiest Thanksgiving memory of your childhood?

I have no memories of Thanksgiving in my childhood. It took my mom a while to catch on to the holiday after immigrating from Persia. In my teens and college years there was always a Russian Baptist Church conference held on Thanksgiving weekend and the conference rotated from the Russian Baptist church in Los Angeles, Hollywood and Sacramento. There was a full church meal for Thanksgiving during the conference. I’m thinking we had a few Thanksgivings at my sister Vera’s house. Our very first Thanksgiving as a married couple everyone was out of town and we had no where to go so we went to a restaurant. That was weird. We had a few Thanksgivings at Dear’s parents’ home. The first turkey I helped prepare was when I was pregnant with our first son and we were in Arrowhead at Dear’s brother and sister-in-law’s home. That broke the ice and we eventually hosted Thanksgiving consistently at our house. When we moved to Washington State we had a couple members of my family fly up every Thanksgiving weekend to spend with us.

Who is the most consistently grateful person you know?

I would have to say our daughter-in-law, Laura.

If you could thank one person today—near or far, living or dead—for their influence on your life, who would that person be?

I’m going to say my little babushka Vera. All my personal memories of her are positive. She lived with one hand and never let that hinder her and she prayed consistently for all of us. She embroidered with only one hand and I treasure the things she made for me. She would tell us not to go out at night because nothing good happens in the dark. Ha! I’ve used that admonition more then once.

Who’s one person you’ve never thanked for their contribution to your life, but would like to?

Mrs. Nicolaus, my 1st and 2nd grade teacher. She was someone who believed in me and was kind and encouraging. She also recommended I skip a grade which I did. I think it was 2nd grade that I skipped but maybe it was 3rd grade since I have no memory of my third grade teacher. Top photo ellen b. is on the top row on the right. In the bottom photo I’m the second from the left with the curly hairdo.

Tell us something random about your Thanksgiving week.

I was on the phone yesterday for my Medicare supplement plan that seems to have fallen through the cracks and I noticed that the deductions were not being taken out of our checking account. For some reason I was dropped as of November 1st. Oops, no Bueno. I think we got it straightened out now and I’ll have coverage again on December 1st. Yikes.

Thank you to Terri for Wednesday Medley.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American Friends!