Sarah looked out the window anxiously. This was an important day for her with a lot of firsts. Today would be the first time her parents visited California, the first time they would see their new house and the first time both her family and her husbands would celebrate Thanksgiving together.
It was also the first time Sarah had ever cooked a full Thanksgiving dinner on her own. Her mother was simply one of the best cooks in Chicago and her standards were pretty high. As long as Sarah could remember, her mom had a reputation for making Thanksgiving dinners that were incredible. To put it in the words of her older brother Jamaal, they were legendary.
It an awesome standard to be measured against and Sarah felt the pressure. In spite of being a bit apprehensive, she had a quiet confidence. After all, as a girl, she'd spent lots of time learning her moms cooking techniques. While she didn't feel like her skills were on par with her mom's, she hoped that her dinner would be pretty acceptable.
The parents were expected to arrive at any minute. The smell of roasting turkey drifted out of the kitchen and filled every room, setting taste buds on high alert and making dinner time seem impossibly far way. Josh put his arms around Sarah from behind hugging her with a firm gentle reassurance. "I'm sure everything will be perfect" he said. "You're a fantastic cook and I know our parents will get along fine, this will be a terrific Thanksgiving.
Josh and Sarah seemed an unlikely couple at first. He was California, born and raised. With a fair complexion, sandy hair and blue eyes he looked every inch the stereotypical beach boy. Sarah on the other hand, a self described African American princess, was Chicago through and through. He seemed very California casual while she was much more conservative with, what college friends called, a "Midwestern mindset".
Like so many couples, they met at university, both in pre-law. It wasn't exactly love at first sight, but after a year of casual dating, they both knew. Josh said they'd just clicked like a couple of magnets with an attraction that, once they got close enough couldn't be pulled apart. After a while everyone just called them "Salt and Pepper", opposites that were a perfect compliment.
Now, here they were 10 years later living Sausalito, in a great house over looking the bay. Each of them established in a successful legal career, Sarah in family law practice, Josh working for a large corporate law firm. They were looking forward to a great life together for many years to come.
Still looking out the window Sarah felt a twinge of nostalgia, "Even after all these years I still having a little trouble adjusting to Thanksgiving in California. Sunshine and palm trees just don't register as being normal fall weather for a girl from Chicago". All that green foliage makes me a bit uncomfortable when I expect fall colors. "Ah yes, Josh responded, but I bet you don't miss blizzards and frost bite".
With that the phone rang and Josh quickly answered. "Hello, yes mom, dinner will be ready in about an hour maybe less. No, Sarah's parents aren't here yet. OK, I understand, yes, yes, it will be fine; we'll just delay a bit until you can get here. OK, then we'll see you later".
Sarah turned to look at Josh as he hung up the phone. "What was that about, she asked with some obvious trepidation"?
"There's a big pile up on the highway and mom and dad are stuck in a huge traffic jam. Cops are trying to find a way to redirect traffic but for now they aren't moving an inch." They asked if we could delay dinner until they get here."
"Oh, no", Sarah said running to the kitchen. She opened the oven; then pulling out the turkey began frantically tearing aluminum foil off a roll and covering it with the silvery sheets. "What are you doing" Josh asked, obviously confused. "I have to cover the bird", Sarah said, surprised by how little Josh knew about cooking. "If I don't it will dry out and, there's nothing worse than dry turkey".
Around my house, serving dry turkey at Thanksgiving was as unforgivable as going to church in your underwear". It was a bigger sin than serving ribs with no sauce or mashed potatoes without gravy, it just can't be allowed".
"Damn", said Josh in a jesting tone, "that is serious". Just then the phone rang again and Josh grabbed it. "Hello, Yes, Mr. Johnson, Sarah is right here, just a moment please she's wrangling a turkey right now".
Satisfied that she's prevented a turkey disaster, Sarah shoved the turkey back in the oven and took the phone. "Hi daddy, where are you?" There was a long uncomfortable pause. Josh watched as Sarah's expression went from happy anticipation to utterly despondent.
"OK daddy", I understand, "I know these things happen and there's no way to predict it. We'll wait for your next call, bye for now". Hanging up the phone Sarah looked annoyed, angry and saddened all at once.
"What's wrong" Josh asked quickly?
"Denver", Sarah said bluntly, "their flight was diverted to Denver because of a mechanical problem. Now they are waiting for a plane to arrive from another city so they can finish the flight and, they don't know how long that will take".
As tears welled up in her eyes Sarah said quietly, "Everything is ruined, our first family Thanksgiving and no one will be here - it's a total disaster".
Josh was less emotional more philosophical and pragmatic. "Well, I don't know perhaps we'll just have lots of turkey sandwiches next week, which is cool with me".
Sarah shot Josh one of her patented disapproving looks and he abandoned the kitchen retreating into the living room. "There seems to be a sudden chill in the air" he quipped.
"Remember, I'm from Chicago", Sarah retorted sarcastically, "I expect fall to be chilly".
Josh could hear Sarah's mood change from sad to mad. Still in the kitchen, she ranted, muttered and fumed, banging pots, slamming cupboard doors. Usually the picture of calmness she was uncharacteristically emotional. Her normal quiet soft-spoken manner had given way to a rampage of rage he'd never experienced before.
Josh dared stick is head back in the kitchen long enough to say, "Sarah, please take a deep breath and calm down for a minute. I know this is an important day for you, but think for a second, this is Thanksgiving, we're supposed to remember what we're thankful for".
"Thankful", Sarah shouted, "my parents are stuck in Denver, yours are bogged down on the road. By the time they all get here the turkey will be so dried out it will be like eating sawdust".
"Oh I see, this is all about you trying to impress everybody with your culinary expertise or, maybe to make your mom proud of the excellent daughter she raised, or to show your dad that his little girl is all grownup."
Sarah was quiet for what seemed an eternity.
"Always the lawyer," she said passively. "You're right of course; I am upset because this was my big day to shine for our parents, I guess that somehow I still feel that I have something to prove to everybody, especially my mom. I was feeling pressured to make everything come out just right, not for them, but for me".
With that the phone rang and Sarah grabbed it. "Hello - oh hi Mom, how's it going - oh that's great news, OK, yes, I understand. Well, yes in fact I could use a little advice".
When the call was finished Sarah turned to Josh and said simply, "That was mom calling from the plane. The airline got them another flight and they expect to land in about two hours. Mom was concerned that the turkey might be ruined so she gave me some advice on how to keep it from drying out".
Josh smiled and gave Sarah a hug, "Like I said before, everything's going to be perfect".
After several more phone calls from both parents afternoon soon became evening. Each in their turn, first Josh's parents, then Sarah's eventually arrived, weary, worn and hungry.
With a proud smile from her mother, Sarah laid out the meal and the turkey, roasted to browned perfection, was the center piece of the feast.
Before the bird was carved Josh made a toast. "Today has been a reminder to us that Thanksgiving is more than just a wonderful meal. It's a time to reflect on those things which matter most, love, family and a chance to be together.
Sarah's father raised his glass and said enthusiastically, "Amen, to that Josh, Amen to that" now, I think I speak for everyone here when I say, could we please have some turkey"?