Separation under the Same Roof #1

As usual, we kicked off our Thanksgiving family tradition by making a big pot of smoked turkey broth today — two days before Thanksgiving.

Having a bowl of smoked turkey gravy to go with the buttery garlicky mashed potatoes made with Yokon Gold Potatoes on our Thanksgiving dinner table is a tradition Hubby and I started many years ago. I asked H if he remembered when we made it for the first time, he said no. I couldn’t recall either. But it has been a part of our Thanksgiving family tradition for at least over 2/3 of our twenty-year marriage together — even longer than our daughter’s age.

What sets this smoked turkey gravy apart from other gravies is the homemade smoked turkey broth it is made with. A few days prior to Thanksgiving, H and I would make our homemade smoked turkey broth with the biggest soup pot we could find in the house and fill it with the smoked turkey parts (usually wings and drumsticks, store-bought or homemade), leftover roast chicken carcasses (Costco and homemade) stored in our freezer, carrots, onions (and celeries if I get a chance to sneak them into the broth without being caught by H, because H doesn’t like celery), water, and then simmer it over low heat for several hours until it cooks down to this flavorful smokey golden liquid ready for its annual showtime.

I am not sure how many more Thanksgiving we will get to celebrate together as a family under the same roof. This thought makes me sad.

“Will you invite me over for Thanksgiving dinner at your house in the future?” I asked H casually while D was not around in the kitchen.

“Yes. I think so.” H answered.

“I won’t have a reason to cook a big Thanksgiving dinner anymore when I don’t have my family together, will I?” I said.

“I don’t know how the ‘other’ people would think or feel about that, but I think it’s okay.”

I don’t know if I should take what H says now seriously.

Nevertheless, I sure hope this will not be the last Thanksgiving we celebrate together as a family.

I am not ready to move on …. yet, even though H sounds like he is ready.