No cleaning for us this year, we are going to my wife’s parents on Thursday and mine on Friday . . . what a deal!
I always love the food at my in-laws and my family has some traditions that make the day a welcome holiday to interrupt the busy year:
1. TV - Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone marathon always engages me on T-Day. It’s become a tradition for all of us to talk and switch from the various episodes into talking again. After twenty years or more of this, I’m amazed that there are always one or two that I haven’t yet seen. I like these because they show the “chink” in the armor of human intelligence. Serling has a sardonic way of delicately showing the viewer that things she/he values as reality are not always secure. This show is a lot of fun and has been a part of our Riley thanksgivings for a long time.
2. Music - I come from a lineage of musicians. My dad taught guitar the first few years of my life with my uncle and our good friend Dennis Stefani, you may know him better as Gwen Stefani’s dad. We get the guitars out and the keybords or pianos opened and play songs ranging from Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land” to real wierd requests from the audience. We’ll do anything as long as it isn’t “Like a Virgin,” or something real out there like that (LOL).
3. Play with the babies! Some of them are not babies anymore. In my family, you may know I have the 5 month old and the almost 3 year old and then a 9 year old. But we have ages ranging up and down the spectrum. It is always amazing to play with my sibling’s kids and remember how much fun thanksgiving was when we were kids.
4. Finally, we record. My dad has started a tradition of recording spoken words about the various holidays. These are really fun to do. We also record our music. We’re all a bunch of recording artists in my family and we have a blast making these things for posterity. You can hear tunes I have recorded through the years at myspace music.
Thanksgiving this year at two houses promises to put weight on me. When you see the next photo of me don’t be shocked if it looks like a “before” pic on the Biggest Loser show. But I’ll also hopefull be more rested and my soul will be more full from spending time with friends and family on the special and for me quite crucial family holiday.
How many houses are you hitting this year and what are your traditions?
Hi. I'm Damien Riley, MA.
5 Comments
Hey Damien - Have a great thanksgiving!
Awwww..hope you guys have a wonderful Thanksgiving! At both houses!!
I host every holiday and get-together at my house. This year we’re at around 30 people and the hubby will do all the cooking while I do all the cleaning. The kids will help, too (whether they like it or not!)…I can’t say we have any real traditions (other than eating) but there is always a lot of music at our holidays, too! Gotta have the music!!
Jessica
That must be a lot of work. But with those big girls around, I am sure you can get some good help. Wish we could stop by! You guys have a wonderful day. I am sure I’ll be stealing away to my Dad’s computer here and there to blog/check blog/tweak blog! LOL You know how it goes!
You had me wanting to be there with the music. I could sit for hours, make that days, listening to people just playing music in that type setting, so much fun. Sounds like y’all have great food and traditions at both homes.
Thanks Marcia. Yes, the guitars were strummed all day!