Even though Jimmy and I knew Thanksgiving was just the warm-up act for our favorite holiday, we'd buy into the pre-Thanksgiving hype every year (making turkey-themed art projects at school, listening to the Pilgrim story). Finally the big day would arrive, and it was all about...eating dinner.
The Cooking
While Mom, The Thanksgiving Martyr, cooked all day, me and Jimmy would pass the time by watching the Macy's Parade, sticking black olives on our fingers, and eating cherries off the cheesecake. Despite her grueling cooking schedule, Mom still managed to take a couple of stock photos each year:
Here's a typical "kids, pies and turkeys" shot, complete with olives and cheesecake.
Just for a second, try to see past our high-waisted Sergio Valente jeans and our crooked haircuts, so you can focus on the true centerpiece of this Thanksgiving picture: Dad's Beer-Can Bar, a work of art he lovingly made out of hundreds of empty beer cans. While most wives would insist this monstrosity remain in the basement, my mom allowed it pride of place in her dining room. She loves unconditionally.
Different year, same theme: kids, pies, turkey. Slightly enhanced with holiday spirit, via a fake toast from the kids.
The Eating
Although Tom Petty would argue differently, it was the eating that was the hardest part of Thanksgiving when Jimmy and I were little. Food that wasn't completely covered in sugar held no interest for us, so all this fuss for one meal seemed like a colossal waste of time. We sat next to each other every year, and usually laughed our way through the dinner until we were allowed to be excused from the table.
This picture is of the "everyone at the table" variety (that's our Uncle Bill, our insanely awesome Grandma and Grandpa, and Jimmy and me at ages 14 and 15). I think this was the year I declared I was a vegetarian, cooked up a veggie burger and made Grandma cry. Some Thanksgivings were happier than others.
The End
Then only thirty minutes after it began, this enormous feast was over. The pies were served, and then the massive clean-up began. In the old days, a standard Fallon party would follow, which involves lots of singing, harmonizing, and dancing around the house. When everyone was partied out, Mom would make Super-Dupers (turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing and gravy on white bread) and we'd all sit down in front of the TV with them. Thanksgiving was over, and now we could start concentrating on a holiday worth anticipating...Christmas!
