Recollections of Thanksgiving done Twice

In my youth we lived within a community of a very fine neighborhood. With the exception of our neighbors and myself I. Our family was very well received where truly the best. I recall fondly of how we celebrated both the Canadian and American Thanksgiving.

October’s Thanksgiving included calls made to all my relatives back in Canada. I remember getting on the phone, as we all would stand waiting for our turn in talking to the grandparents. And then it was from the day before Thanksgiving and into the evening that my mother was in bliss just being within the kitchen and just having here kitchen to herself, with the exception to each one of us coming and sneaking some piece of something and there was usually that slight slap on the hand coupled with a grin. Along with a mention you have to wait. But who could resist with the aromas that were going through the entire house!

Right during this time on the Canadian Thanksgiving day all our neighbors would come to the door and there would be some form of dessert or a type of food, it was truly amazing when I look back within my childhood as here came a celebration where the giving was truly done, I think most all took into account that all our relatives where back in Canada. I forget when it all started all that I cared about was the food! I found that we really were home as the neighbors which were all within the place called Hiller Heights would come over and deliver a pie or something as they understood that my folks where Canadian and it was done out of respect as well as friendship. Some of which I have kept in contact with from time to time still. It was something this time within my youth, I would never change a thing. Mind you then there was us just sitting around the table and enjoying Thanksgiving. All within the family and then heading down thereafter to enjoy some movie within the family room.
Thereafter came November and we would also celebrate the American Thanksgiving. Now I don’t have any pictures on it but I we would be sent out to deliver some poppy seed rolls, apple pies to about ten within the neighborhood. We kept this tradition of two Thanksgivings. So all in all back then as a kid, I was more interested in what being able to have two turkeys and having my share of dressing – for me dressing coupled with apple pie was something that I immensely enjoyed coupled with there after going into the family room there after and we would all watch some movie. Those were fond times that I recall. As a kid I didn’t really come to know what this thanksgiving was all about all that I cared about as like many of my childhood friends were just being with family and waiting for my dish to come around and having two servings – mostly of dressing. Those were the days where you just enjoyed the celebration but once again the exchanges between neighbors that we really came to be more like family it was a tremendous time. Since those days I have been back there and have visited five of the original families five times, and still keep in contact with a few of them from time to time. Thereafter I went back years later and then celebrated it all the American Thanksgiving all over again and that is another story as within New York and along with the people I was surrounded by and with it was one in which the memories of my youth came back.

And here too I enjoy just the one Thanksgiving, I literally arrived back in New York City just a few weeks before Thanksgiving. And seeming how fast after Thanksgiving came Christmas and to see all the buildings decorated downtown. I don't have any pictures unfortunately. However the first four months within my return to America I literally felt like I was at home.