Do you take an annual trip to McAdenville, North Carolina, or Tryon to see holiday lights and get in the spirit? Or how about Asheville and the Biltmore House? I have been fortunate to do all three at separate times in my life- and all of them bring special memories. But what brings one of the best traditions is Thanksgiving at my brother and sister in law’s home in Piedmont. It is something we have been doing for the last thirty years. Now the numbers of attendees have changed and often grown exponentially- and sadly a few members are no longer with us- but it is tradition. And I am sure if my brother-in-law is able that this will go on and on. Who knows one of the young marrieds from the three brothers will carry it on when us old folks have moved along due to age, death, or ability. The tradition starts with fried turkeys, baked turkeys, ham and every imaginable southern side dish imaginable and desserts ranging from homemade pound cakes to the famous sweet potato cake from The Sweetery in downtown Greenville. Beer and wine are always plentiful as well as corn hole, televisions blasting football games and the men folks gathering in the man cave while the women claim seats in the kitchen. The kiddos run and play outside, and the super little ones spend time having bottles and being cuddled by the numerous outpourings of cousins, aunts and grandmothers around. Everyone seems to invite those who need a place to go for Thanksgiving and others stop in just because they want to play board games, plan the annual Black Friday shopping excursions and lunch or maybe even plan golf for the weekend, weather dependent, and a trip to Skins Hot dogs for a bag of favorites for the kids. Anyway, you slice it-this is the beginning of the season and of course we can’t forget game plans for the Tiger Gamecock showdown which typically takes place on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
The cornbread dressing will never be the same now that the matriarch of the bunch, Grandma Dot passed in the summer of 2024. There is also an empty spot from Doug, my sister in law’s late father who used to light up the crowd with his sense of humor. Missing is the original Grandpa; life took him too quick from that accident. New babies, old friends and new add to the tradition. Robin’s famous sweet potato crunch and my own homemade fudge are just few of the things we will all remember. Pass the plates and relax. It is time now to plan for Christmas as well. As the families have grown, Christmas Eve has changed for all of us. But going to church for the candlelight service sets the tone for a magical evening, dreams of Santa in the sky, and prayers and thankfulness for Jesus’s birth and being here yet another year. Whatever your family traditions, wherever you travel, be it local, or family that comes to you- it is the most magical season, with extra cookies, special treats, peanut brittle, cookies for Santa, Christmas morning pancakes with syrup, fruit and whipped cream, prime rib and all the fixings and of course some spiked egg nog. Drink it in- take lots of pictures. What started for all of us as a group of about 20 is now up to 33 plus more friends and extended family. Thirty years of a Piedmont, South Carolina Thanksgiving. Thank you, Robin and Anthony, for hosting yet another one.