The Ontarion’s editorial staff shares their traditions, memories, and what they are thankful for this season
As the weekend approaches, we all begin to think about whom we will get to see, where we will get to go, and the delicious food we will get to eat. The first long weekend of the school year, for many it’s a time to try and put midterms out of our minds, and enjoy our time spent with the ones we love. Here, we have asked all of our editors what this weekend and this season means to them, and how they plan on spending their long weekends. What will you do?
Emily Jones
Thanksgiving means one thing to me – spending quality time with those I love most. The weekend consists of walks in the trees, bottles of red wine, and enjoying and preparing some of the most delicious comfort foods. My family is scattered across the province, and I do not always get to see everyone, every year. A few thanksgivings ago I was able to make the long road-trip to Pembroke, Ontario, to visit with my Dad’s side of the family. The drive up is always nostalgic. The winding roads through the Ottawa Valley at this time of year are always filled with fall colours always warm me up inside – these are memories I will never forget, and hope to revisit in years to come. This weekend, I plan on spending time with those I love most, and cooking my first Thanksgiving dinner for my immediate family in the apartment I call home.
Alyssa Ottema
I’ve come to think of my main Thanksgiving tradition as long hours spent driving in a car. Between three sets of grandparents spread across the province and two sets of parents to contend with, my boyfriend and I potentially spend more time driving to see our families than we do actually seeing them. In our first year of splitting holidays, what kept me going was the knowledge that mashed potatoes and gravy awaited me on the other side of a three-hour car ride (note: if you’re to know one thing about me, it should be that I have an undying love for mashed potatoes and gravy). Over the years, however, I’ve come to appreciate those hours in the car with the person I am most thankful for. With school, work, and generally busy lifestyles, we don’t always have the luxury of spending three uninterrupted hours together, so I find I’m really thankful for these hours of good music, beautiful scenery out the window, and time with the wonderful guy who so graciously does all of the actual driving.
Adrien Potvin
My Thanksgiving experience has historically been a bit more localized than Alyssa’s or Emily’s, but nonetheless it’s always an enjoyable time. My grandmother, at 85, has been and is still the glue that binds the weekend together. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone with so much command of such a small kitchen! The scents and sights are unforgettable – cream of broccoli soup, mashed potatoes, peas, carrots, turkey, tourtière. The key is in the simplicity and honesty with which she cooks. Aside from my family, a lot of my friends in Guelph are really fine cooks, so when we get together for our Thanksgiving dinner at any given place, bountiful, heartfelt food is to be found and subsequently devoured. After that, tryptophan dreamscapes await those who take the plunge into a post-gorge nap.
Stephanie Coratti
Growing up, I was lucky enough to have four cousins (in addition to my brother) that are realistically more like siblings. Vacations, holidays, birthdays – they were all spent together. Over the years it has become increasingly more difficult to get, what I like to call, the Original Six together due to school and work schedules, and just the process of growing up. Thanksgiving is one of those rare times we get to all be together again, and it’s almost (almost!) as good as the food.
Emilio Ghloum
On this joyous holiday, there are many things I am grateful for including family, friends and the opportunity to go to school. As the semesters have gone by, I have learned to become more organized with my schoolwork. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I have begun transferring these wicked awesome skills I have gained towards the holiday feast. This year, I’m stepping up my game. Every Thanksgiving, I always enjoy the leftovers more than the actual meal. Typically, I take turkey, stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce, and shove it all into an Italian panini. The immense glory of the sandwich is unparalleled. My game plan is to feign excitement with loud and enticing descriptions of the food present on the table – “Wow, those mashed potatoes look amazing! I’m going to eat all of them!” As I watch everyone fill up on starchy delicious potatoes, I can picture my sandwich getting bigger and bigger with all of the leftovers. Oh yes. As the meal ends and everybody is about to fall asleep, this is where I shine. I take initiative and bring all the dishes into the kitchen by myself. The leftovers are now unguarded and ready to pack. Success.
Danielle Subject
My house is the host-house for all family occasions. Twice a year, Thanksgiving and Christmas, my mom puts away her bitterness towards hosting and cooking to bring us a delicious family dinner. The joke in the family is that my vegetarian mother cooks the turkey – it’s an ironic sight to walk into the kitchen and see her stuffing a turkey. After being away at school for a while, having the family over is awesome, and reminiscing with my two younger brothers is always a plus. With the front of the house covered in Fall decorations, and my family being in the same place at once, I always feel like a kid again. Having divorced parents, I get the luxury of having two turkey dinners every Thanksgiving – my mom’s side is on Sunday and my dad’s side is on Monday. My grandmother on my dad’s side makes the absolute best stuffing in the entire world (my mom is the only person who can get remotely close to copying it). Finally, the biggest thing I look forward to is seeing my puppy, Jersey, and getting to take cute Fall selfies with him in the backyard.
Matthew Azevedo
My favourite Thanksgivings have been spent at my family cottage, a few hours north of Toronto. One year we crammed 12 people, 2 cats, 1 dog, and a euphonium into its 3 small bedrooms. My aunt made her famous stir-fry Saturday night and on Sunday morning the turkey was in the oven. By Sunday afternoon we realized that the oven had shut off sometime after breakfast, and panic ensued. The various cooks brainstormed, the cats chased the dog and someone played the euphonium. In the end, we all ate Turkey Sunday night. Not sure how we got there, but it was fun.