by Linda Meltzer Harris '57
You, my dear friend, have opened up such a wonderful avenue for so many people. It is truly amazing. When I am having a bad day, all I need to do is get on line, and my day has changed for the better. It may not be from something you wrote, but it sure wouldn't be happening if you hadn't started this grand site! So, this tribute did not come soon enough if you ask me...I have thought we needed to do this for a long time.
So dear friend, thank you...thank you...for creating my wonderful world where I can retreat to from time to time, for laughter, memories, music,...so for you:
Love,
Cindy Benedict Odom '69
Turkeys in those days were live and on foot until a few days before they were scheduled to be served for Thanksgiving dinner and so Uncle Charlie and Dad kept our big turkey in the basement at Uncle Charlie's house. Knowing how particular my dad was about the interior of his car (a beautiful black 1933 Chrysler with no trunk and velour seats and roll-up blinds with tassels), I suspect Uncle Charlie got the job of bringing it home in his old 1941 Chevy. Somehow I can't picture either of them walking the turkey all the way home on a leash. Anyway, about two weeks before Thanksgiving, the turkey arrived and was put in the basement for safekeeping.
As you all know, November can be pretty cold and the winter had set in early so the fire in the furnace had to be fixed each morning. Uncle Charlie always got up about 4:30 am and made the fire in the coal furnace, fed the turkey, and then retreated upstairs for a coffee and cigarette before going into work. As pets go...the turkey soon learned who fed him and so every time Uncle Charlie went to the basement to stoke the furnace, the turkey would gobble at him or follow him around until it was fed. Uncle Charlie was a kind person and loved animals. (Carolyn and I always had dogs, cats, fish, birds, rabbits, chameleons...some all at the same time!) Pretty soon, he became pretty fond of the turkey and remarked to Aunt Helen, how friendly and cute it was. We should have known then that there would be trouble brewing.
Within the first week, the turkey was allowed upstairs on the back porch because the quarters in the basement were too crowded. There was a half door onto the back porch or utility room and so Carolyn and I were soon petting the turkey and trying to get him to verbalize some of his gobble noises. He was a big white one with a red head and we were really excited when he would spread his tail and strut around. Aunt Helen had papers all over the floor for the turkey and practically had him "house trained." I know if we'd pushed it, she would have let us bring him in the kitchen! Meantime, time was getting closer to Thanksgiving dinner.
Uncle Charlie and my mother and dad were all raised on a farm and so it was sort of routine for them to kill chickens and turkeys for eating. I remember watching my mother literally ring a chicken's neck and then throw it out in the back yard to flop the blood out of the body. Then she would pluck it and singe it and prepare it for Sunday dinner. However, by now the "pet" turkey was presenting Uncle Charlie with a problem. He was attached to it and the turkey absolutely loved him. The dilemma was that there was no other meat for Thanksgiving so we all knew what was going to happen. Carolyn and I busied ourselves while the deed was done and then Aunt Helen took over in getting the turkey ready to bake. My dad brought down my mother's big roaster...which ended up being too small for this big bird. That meant that the bird had to be cut up and then roasted.
Uncle Charlie was a wonderful cook and so he prepared his specialty oyster dressing. The dressing was literally so smooth that it melted in your mouth. Dad and Uncle Charlie always got a big kick out of betting Carolyn and me a quarter that we couldn't eat an oyster. The oyster flavor was wonderful but I still can't bear to eat an oyster. However, I collected a few quarters this way. It was really worth all the faces I made just to hear them giggle and laugh! Well I guess I thought they should get a quarter's worth of entertainment from me. We really got good putting on the show for them. Poor Carolyn had a time with her oysters but we always shared our money in the end. It all did come to an end when Dad brought home a jar of raw oysters from Biloxi! No way no matter the prize.
Well, Thanksgiving dinner time finally arrived, our thanks were given and the turkey was carved up and served. Then reality set in and Uncle Charlie was almost in tears, then Aunt Helen started to cry. Soon no one could eat the turkey...well not much of it anyway. Oh there was ample meat for all my other aunts and uncles who gathered for the dinner, but everyone remembered how friendly the poor old turkey was and how much excitement he had given us. It is amazing how far turkey left-overs went in that atmosphere. We didn't have freezers in those days so we were going to have to eat this turkey up in a few days. So...first came shredded turkey sandwiches, then turkey soup and noodles, then turkey salad, etc., etc. Some was sent home with friends or neighbors who came by. I think we had turkey for lunch for what seemed like months. Then whaddya know... It's Christmastime and time to start thinking about Christmas dinner. My other uncle really got things going when he announced (and I mean announced) that our Christmas dinner would be roast goose! Yuck! Talk about eating fat and grease! By that time, the old standby of turkey was looking pretty good again. This time, the turkey was not brought home to take care of before cooking time.
I often remember our special holidays that we have had in the past with our family and I'm thankful for all the love and special caring that I was given by the family and friends in my hometown. I'm sure you do too. Although we have lost the presence of those we loved in those days, our memories help to renew the fun times for us. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Linda Meltzer Harris '57
DeBary, FL