My favorite holiday

Thanksgiving has long been my favorite holiday. It's never been about the turkey--even before I went vegetarian, I was never a fan. I'll admit, my mother's sweet potato casserole and Grandma Mitchell's whole cranberry relish and her unbeatable sage stuffing (which they never actually cooked in or around the turkey) recipes play a role, as does watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and then football later, but I think it's really about visiting family without other distractions.

Well, maybe that, and the anticipation of Christmas just around the corner. I have many fond memories of perusing the Day After Thanksgiving Sale flyers and going shopping early the next morning with my mother and grandmother, then meeting my aunt, uncle, and cousins at the Shrine Circus afterward. It was a great tradition. Back then, Christmas magic popped out overnight, as though elves had been in the stores decorating while we were all enjoying pumpkin pie. There was none of this day after Halloween (or even before, now) Christmas stuff.