Thanksgiving morning! I couldn't wait to get up and help my mother prepare the Thanksgiving dinner. Well sort of...... My job had been to set the table, complete with my grandmother's silverware, a beautiful white tablecloth, stored in the bottom drawer of the oak dresser in my room, and linen napkins that only came out once a year. My mother's beautiful painted serving bowls and the fancy gravy boat would be taken down from the highest shelf in the pantry, along with the crystal, pink depression glass goblets, that the wine would be served in. It was all so exciting.
I tried to help in the kitchen, but my mom kept shooing me away for some reason, maybe because I was too young to help her cook all that great food? I remember the fragrant smell of the turkey cooking, embracing all the rooms in our small, Midwestern home, making me even more excited! Cream corn, mashed potatoes, gravy, a fancy Jell-O salad and stuffing all so yummy, would also be making an appearance at that great once a year feast! And who could forget the pies? Pumpkin, mincemeat and pecan topped with real whipped cream!
I couldn't wait to see my Great Aunt Charlotte and Great Uncle Fred, my Aunt June and Uncle Marvin and their 3 kids, my first cousins. I sat by our front window and watched for our guests, it seemed for hours. Finally they arrived; I remember the smell of my uncle's cigar as if it was yesterday. My cousins and I would go down into our basement and play until we were called up for that great smelling, wonderfully filling feast. We enjoyed our time together, laughing, eating and listening to the funny stories my Great Uncle Fred would tell us.
That was many years ago. My mother, my Uncle Marvin, my great aunt and uncle, and 2 of my cousins have all passed away. I have sweet memories of my childhood and I continue the Thanksgiving tradition with my own family and grandchildren. I still have my grandmother's silverware, linen napkins and tablecloth that I use for our traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. The only difference is that I let the kids help cook if they want to, but I still set the table!
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Comments: 54
Use paragraphs. It's one long, boring sentence. Not that the story is boring, just that it runs all together which makes it a bit harder to read.
And, please edit the tiniest bit. Put some sentences together and make it succinct.
Here's your sentence I had trouble with...
(My job was to set the table, complete with my grandmother's silverware that only came out at Thanksgiving, and linen napkins that I also only saw once a year.)
Here's a way to edit it...
My job had been to set the table, complete with my grandmother's silverware, a beautiful white tablecloth, stored in the bottom drawer of the oak dresser in my room, and linen napkins that only came out once a year.
( I got to get out the beautiful white linen tablecloth that was stored in the bottom drawer of the oak dresser in my room.)
See how I put all the info together? It's makes it more to the point and less wordy.
(That was many years ago, my mother, my great aunt and uncle, my Uncle Marvin and 2 of my cousins are all gone.)
You repeated uncle three times, and near the same place which mixed me up a bit. Try the sentence like this..
That was many years ago. My mother, my Uncle Marvin, My great aunt and uncle, and two of my cousins are all gone. (Here, I would say that they passed. Because when you say they are gone. It could mean that they couldn't make it to supper. It's easily confused.)
Other than those little tweaks, your story is quite compelling and heartwarming.
Good luck in your contest!
Brings back memories of Thanksgiving in New York at my Grandmothers home. Great Memories~
Karen
ps. the food sure made me wanting !
Oh, what treasures could be found in grandma's parlor. We always tiptoed and whispered when in the parlor. Peeking in drawers in a chest, leafing through the huge Bible on a pedestal, making sure not to move the antimasscars (?) on the sofa and chair arms (all hand crocheted by grandma).
The book shelves in the parlor held a whole row of 'big little' books. We had to wash our hands first and be very careful with these. There was a picture on the wall of Niagara Falls, that when plugged in, the falls would move. Also a lamp with a similar shade that would turn from the heat of the lamp.
I hadn't thought of these things in years!
I wish you much luck! Have a lovely day!
That's how I learned to set the table too.
At my mother's family home, it was much less formal. Those are the wonderful memories with 5 uncles and 19 of us kids at the table.
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