Double Turkey

Rieko calls Thanksgiving "Double Turkey" because for us it means turkey for lunch at the Shima Family Thanksgiving and turkey for dinner at the Tsuno Family Thanksgiving Party. This year was no different. We had a great time with the Shima family at Sherman and Sallie's house. The food was amazing and ranged from a Prime Rib made by John (Erin's Husband and Chief) to yummy mash potatos made by my brother Eton. Everyone seemed to have a good time and I was especially impressed by my Auntie Sallie's "real looking" plastic plates and utensils! They really fooled me!

今年もやってきたサンクスギビング（感謝祭）！！小さい頃読んだ『マッチ売りの少女』や『赤毛のアン』などのクリスマスシーンに出てきた七面鳥はそれこそとーってもおいしそうに描かれていて、どんなものかと興味シンシンだったが、実はおいしくない。っていうかまずい•••。それからというものサンクスギビングは私にとって悪夢の一日となった。っというのも一日に2回も七面鳥を食べなきゃいけないから。名付けて『ダブルターキー』。ランチはデビンのお母さんサイドのパーティーへ。ディナーはお父さんサイドのパーティーへ。ちょっと大変な一日です。

今年はそんな私に救いの手が•••　　いとこのエレンの旦那さんのジョンが今年からサンクスギビングパーティーに仲間入り。ローストビーフを持ってきてくれました。んーーおいしーー。彼の特技はソース作りなだけにソースも超ウマでした。サンクスギビングはどの家庭でもほぼ同じメニュー。七面鳥、マッシュポテト、スィートポテト、インゲンなどのベジタブル、クランベリーソース、クランベリーゼリー、スタッフィン。デザートはパンプキンパイ、アップルパイなど。

Thanks giving is traditionally pot luck so Rieko decided to bring her expert taste for japanese sweet cakes to the table. Here is a picture of the great chocolate cake she brought along side the traditional pumpkin pies.

これは私の持っていった日本のケーキ屋さんのラズベリーチョコレートムース。パンプキンパイはバーバラの手作り。

Rieko had a nice time talking about my Bachan's recent trip to Okinawa. My Bachan walked over 2 miles as a representative from California in the annual Okinawa "Welcome Home" Parade where every 5 years Okinawans from all over the world migrate back to their homeland. She talked about how she enjoyed it so much and how fun it was waving to everyone and was even on the local news on tv.

おばあちゃんが沖縄旅行の話を聞かせてくれました。シャーマンはとっても心配りのある人で、りえこの家の近くまで行ったのに両親に連絡しなくてごめんね。って言ってくれたよ。
In the Tsuno Family Thanksgiving Party we have a very long history of playing Poker on this day. I remember sitting on my father's lap at the age of 3 or 4 watching my father play with my great aunts and great uncles who are all now in their 80's and 90's. As I grew older I started playing on my own at the age of maybe 10 or 12. And today the game usually consists of my Uncle Wayne (dad's sister's husband), his two grandsons P.J. and Allen, their step-father Pat and usually myself and my younger brother eton. I miss playing with my great uncles and aunts. It was basically the only time we had together once a year, but the tradition lives on and this year I borrowed $5 from Rieko and turned it into $15. Good thing I won!

津野の家ではサンクスギビングでポーカーをするのがトラディッションになってるそう。毎回毎回3時間も待たされるこっちの身にもなって欲しい。

In the US we call it "Turkey Coma" when we eat SO much Turkey on thanksgiving all we want to do is fall asleep. And that is exactly what I did. I fell asleep when we came home and slept for over 10hrs!!! I woke up with a very bad headache but I guess all the good food was worth it.