Thanksgiving Family Traditions

Every family has their own holiday traditions. Many of which have been passed down from our parents and then down to our children.

Looking back at my childhood, Thanksgiving was the start of our holiday season. We would wake up to the wonderful smell of turkey and my mother's homemade pies.

We always had others share the day with us. All our aunts, uncles, my Grandmother, cousins and a few close friends.

Nobody worked then, because all the stores and businesses were closed, so we would often play games or watch some of the television specials that came on that time of year. Everything was in real time from the television we watched, to the relatives that would call to wish us a happy thanksgiving, no DVRs or smart phones, voice mails or even caller ID!

We didn’t have a lot growing up, so Thanksgiving was a day when we could eat as much as we wanted and we definitely did.

A more recent tradition, that I'm fond of stemmed from being in radio for almost 30 years. I have worked a lot of Thanksgiving mornings, so for years I would call my mother on the phone and put her on the air with me for updates on how the dinner was progressing. She always played along and did a great job!

Today, we have a traditional dinner at home. The kids show up and we invite family and a few friends because we believe that no one should be alone on Thanksgiving.

This Thanksgiving I ask you to think about what you’re thankful for. I always remind myself of what I have and how fortunate I am to be an American and live in this area.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!