The News From (a city near) Lake Wobegon

First the good news:  I'm staying home for Thanksgiving this year!  That makes me happy because I'm a big chicken when it comes to driving in snowy weather - and this holiday is notorious for dishing out nasty weather either during the drive to my parents' house, or on my way back home.

Now the bad news:  My oven died about a month or two ago - and procrastinator and penny pincher that I am, I haven't managed to get it fixed yet.  So my Turkey Dinner will need to be cooked in the microwave or on my stove top...

Collier's magazine cover, November 16, 1932

Actually, I'm not too concerned.  There will be just three of us for dinner on Thursday - me and my two munchkins.  And as long as my son gets his pumpkin pie, my daughter gets her spinach dip, and I get my mashed potatoes and gravy, we will all be perfectly happy.

My children, Daniel and Rachel, toasting Times Square - 2008 trip to New York City.

This year's Thanksgiving gathering at our home is special for a couple of reasons.  My son Daniel moved out of the house shortly before Halloween to live in Rochester, Minnesota (near the Mayo Clinic), so this will be his first holiday homecoming.  And now my daughter Rachel has decided to follow his lead. She just found an apartment a couple of miles away from home, and plans to move out on December 1.  I'm losing my babies!

Okay, I will admit that for the past few years I have actually been looking forward to having my house to myself.  (Just think, I will have two empty bedrooms to spread out my antiques in!) 

But now that it's only a week away from happening, I just want to turn back the clock about 20 years and be able to curl up next to them in bed at night and read "Goodnight Moon" over and over again. 

Oh, look at me complaining again - when I have so much to be grateful for!

It's always something, isn't it?

Or as this little pup says, "If it isn't Booze, it's Something Else..."  (Ha! I'd like to read that story - too bad I've only got the magazine cover...)

To those of you who will be celebrating Thanksgiving this Thursday - my very best wishes to you for a wonderful holiday!   And to those of you who will be heading to work that day, as usual - perhaps when you get home you can have a nice glass of wine or two, and toast your American friends.  And if you forget, I promise to have an extra glass for you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

p.s. For those of you who have no idea what "The News From Lake Wobegon" refers to, and haven't had the pleasure of listening to Garrison Keillor's radio show, "A Prairie Home Companion" - here's a little taste of quirky Minnesota humor for you.  Watch it to the end to catch the fun Be-Bop-A-Re-Bop Rhubarb Pie ditty.