Corey Minor Smith
Chrissy Gruninger
The Month of Moveable Feast
BY HEATHER REID
ike many
Americans, my
family
associates November with The Feast. You know, Turkey Day. Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude and celebration and feels especially poignant this year when we are reuniting with relatives we haven't seen face-to-face in years.
In our house, we take November to the next level because, in addition to Turkey-palooza, we also celebrate three birthdays: My husband's, my own, and my younger son's. If that's not complicated enough, my son's birthday often coincides with, or within a day, of Thanksgiving itself.
Our tradition is that everyone picks their birthday dinner and a cake or other dessert treat. It's interesting to see the variety of preferences within one family.
My husband is a reliable man
and an apple pie aficionado, while simple tastes rule the day for my son. My soon-to-be 9-year-old birthday boy requested a vanilla cake with chocolate frosting made by his 11-year-old brother, who has recently started taking on independent baking projects. My birthday falls between these two. Unlike my routinized boys, I opt for an unusual treat, often of my own making, like tiramisu or an elaborate layer cake. I'm grateful my family indulges my need for variety, and they go along with all my crazy plans.
L
recently started taking on independent baking projects. My birthday falls between these two. Unlike my routinized boys, I opt for an unusual treat, often of my own making, like tiramisu or an elaborate layer cake. I'm grateful my family indulges my need for variety, and they go along with all my crazy plans.
Jammed in the middle of all of these birthday celebrations comes Thanksgiving. When we aren't hosting the meal in Chicago, we travel to Ohio to see my Aunt, Uncle, cousins, and their families. It's a trip I've done most years since I came to the Midwest for college as a teenager.
Photo Credit Krakenimages