Meat drippings and flour…

I can hardly hide my giddiness these days. ‘Tis my time of the year. Last weekend I was treated to my first snowfall of the season. Kathy, Lindsay and I were at the home of my brother Clay and his wife Linda in New Hope, where we witnessed the wonder of 10” of fresh snow falling outside their living room picture window. The show was complete with a rush of cardinals, blue jays, woodpeckers and squirrels scrambling for food just on the other side of the glass. There is nothing like a little frozen whiteness to get me in the mood for the holidays.
Of course the holiday season also comes with a full schedule. Starting with last weekend, my dance card is full for seven straight weekends.
Our trip to the Twin Cities last weekend was for the purpose of attending a surprise party for my nephew Chris. It was a big week for Chris. We partied in honor of both his 30th birthday and his brand spanking new engagement to an exemplary young woman named Krista. Congratulations to both of them.
This weekend we will be off to New Ulm, where we will see another nephew, Zack Jensen, who will be starring in the NUHS production of “Hello Dolly” on Friday evening.
Saturday brings the annual Wilmes Family Thanksgiving…this year hosted by my brother Todd and his wife Susan in Sanborn. It marks the much-anticipated beginning of gravy season. Yum. Yes, I’m talking about the steaming hot flow of murky goodness that is absent from my life for most of the year. What a wonderful, versatile topping for virtually everything on the Thanksgiving dinner table, with the possible exception of the pumpkin pie. The smooth, silky, sultry, salty goodness that is ladled copiously on every inch of…um sorry. Moving on…
On Thanksgiving Day our merry band will travel to North Mankato, where the Thomsen family celebration will be hosted by my sister-in-law Cruella and her husband Dave. This is seemingly fitting, as she will soon be returning from a vacation in Turkey. Although, by the looks of the food pictures she has posted over the past couple of days on Facebook, I will be inspecting the main entrée to confirm that it is actually a domestic Butterball. Any signs of mussels and rice with a side of vine leaves and I’m out of there.
The following day will bring a bit of Black Friday madness. Rumor has it there will be some awesome prices on electronics throughout the season. I love electronics.
Okay…one more note about gravy…
One of my favorite Christmas memories was maybe four or five years ago. My yearly ode to gravy in the local newspaper column paid big dividends. “Off the Mark” reader Bev Gylling of Tyler saved and froze leftover gravy from throughout the year and presented it to me at Christmas. How does it get better than leftover gravy…the gift that keeps on giving. That stash of carbo-laden happiness lasted well into February as I recall. Having trouble coming up with gift ideas for me? 1. Electronics 2. DVDs 3. Gravy.
Sorry, sometimes gravy can distract my train of thought.
The festivities will continue into next month. First weekend—Opera House Christmas Show; second weekend—my office Christmas party, followed by a Sunday gathering of some of my family members as we hold a wake in honor of the death of the Vikings season; third weekend Kathy’s office Christmas party; and then of course, the Main Event on the following weekend—Christmas.
New Year’s weekend I’m hoping to sleep.
May each of you have a season resplendent with laughter, covered in gravy and devoid of Turkish goat cheese.
Happy Holidays!