This will be the first year in at least 44 years that our family has not reunited to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. We "go to" Thanksgiving at Toby and Bruce's home and in the past 3-4 years to brother John's on Wiley Branch. People come from all over to share in the day. The six Bussey siblings are usually there. If one's missing they will regret the day and be told by sister Toby that they should have made better plans. Over the years, some things have remained constant. There is so much laughter and talk. And, the babies keep coming! Toby counts 45 as a small crowd.
There is an early meal--12 Noon or 1 PM. I'm always late and my arrival has been a highlight for many years now. I always bring the scalloped oysters or seafood casserole, so I'm usually forgiven. Once we're all there,Bruce asks the blessing while Tom O'Rourke, Sr.& Jr, Margo, and Johnny act mischievous. Then the feast begins. We've grown to more than 60 present at most Thanksgivings.
Sometimes Aunt Ora, Wonnell and Garland show up from Daddy's side. Sometimes Bill & Nancy Bussey, which is such a treat. Sometimes, Jimmy,Valerie and Shirley show up from Mother's side. Recently mother's only living sibling, Aunt Olga Trusty, showed up with son John Richard and daughter, Debbie Trimble. My five siblings, myself, and our descendants account for everyone else. Toby and Bruce alone, now have 24 descendants.
The food is southern/mountain traditional. Brother Johnny & wife Eda have recently hosted some Thanksgivings to help Toby out. She had a tough job for many years and never complained. She just wanted to make sure everyone came and brought any friends they wanted. Over the years all of us have brought someone to share in the day. We have baked turkey, smoked turkey, smoked pork, dressing, shuck beans (no one could cook shuck beans like Peggy), sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, macaroni salad, fruit salad, rolls, cranberry salad, deviled eggs, kushaw or squash, gravy,oyster stuffing, and so many desserts I can't even list them. The standards are frozen fruit salad, pumpkin rolls, jam cake, and apple pie (United Baptist style), pumpkin pie. Then, there were the touch football games, the hikes into the hills and up to the cemetery, and the naps.
Since the first round of eating begins by 1 PM, we have another meal around 6 PM.Don't you love left-over dressing and gravy? Going "to" Thanksgiving is a great memory for all of our children. Toby and Bruce let everyone do just exactly what they want to do. If the kids want to eat on the new sofa, that's ok. If the kids want to ride their trikes and bikes down cemetery hill, that's ok too. If the kids--or adults--spill pop or coffee on the furniture, Toby doesn't mind at all. They set up tables in the family room where the kids later play games, Karen and I sang "Sincerely" and children performed. We always danced a little to the old rock and roll music, when we could pull the guys away from the football on TV. I have it recorded all on my first edition back-pack video films. Pure madness, pure fun! That's why all the kids loved going to Thanksgiving at Tutor Key, Kentucky.
Friday was always Italian day. Karen married Irish-Italian and we have Giganti Sicilian cousins so Friday was the day to celebrate our diversity. Karen cooked her famous spaghetti and meatballs. Rose Burnosi O'Rourke, Karen's beloved mother-in-law brought her homemade ravioli from Latrobe, Pennshyvania to add to the feast. The past 5-10 years, brother Johnny tries to invade the Italian kitchen so we watch him carefully so Karen can cook the way she wants to. There's always a little steam brewing when Johnny and Karen meet at the stove on Italian day.
Saturday is soupbean and cornbread day. God, it's good to get back to basics.
One of my favorite Thanksgiving memories was at Toby and Bruce's house on Davis Branch around 1969. My son Tommy was only 5 years old and had never been able to say his "r"s. That day he charged into the kitchen happily yelling, "MotheRRR, I shot a BiRRd!" I can hear him now.
Then, there was a special hike to the top of the hill behind our house on Wiley Branch. I was backpacking my famous huge video camera and have films of the whole day. As Rose O'Rourke and I went up the path, we came across 2 of Hershell Pack's horses. I was afraid to walk past them, so Rose and I climbed straight up the steep hill instead of the beaten path that wound its way to the top. I kept my camera on. We struggled for breath and laughed all the way. coming back down, I captured the sound of my creek rambling on to Georges Creek and towards the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy. A wonderful sound.
Uncle Johnny would always take the young'ens on hikes. He taught them the names of trees, which bark to chew, and how to track certain animals. He showed them how to dig in the earth, until water surfaced for a fresh drink--just as the Native Americans had done. Over the years, I hear that Johnny made a few of the kids chew tobacco. They'd do anything for Uncle Johnny and he just laughed when they turned green.
Our memories are fully entrenched in each of us, each in our own way. I know we will all remember going "to" Thanksgiving over the past half century. I appreciate Toby and Bruce, and more recently, Johnny and Eda for hosting our group.
As for Thanksgiving in the coalcamp, I have few memories. I know we had turkey, cornbread dressing,gravy, potatoes, and probably baked sweet potatoes,and shuck beans. Mother's dressing was all homemade, starting with cornbread. The finished product was rich and greasy and delicious. Others will have to help me with this memory. Was this day a disaster like other holidays, when tempers clouded all festivities? Did we visit Granny and Pap. I'm stuck here.
The celebration of Thanksgiving was certainly a big event at school. We painted beautiful turkeys, pilgrims, & pumpkins, in tempra paint on the school windows. And, every year, the big event was the Thanksgiving Play. We dressed as pilgrims in black dresses and white bonnets and aprons. The boys were some kind of stack hat. The girls had names like "Prudence" and "Patience". One of the famous lines was, "Speak for yourself, John".
Mother couldn't sew a lick and God only knows how she got our costumes made. Layman Shepherd built us a stage in the gym and put folding chairs out for the audience. Everyone in the camp would come. We hid when the Indians attacked then, over time, befriended the Indians and celebrated and gave thanks with a huge feast of turkey & corn & bread & onions. I'm sure this was the beginning of cornbread stuffing.Our program always ended in the song, "We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing...". David Grade School was big on plays. There was always some form of propriety placed among our crude celebrations.
I hope everyone has a memorable Thanksgiving this year. It seems fitting and proper that we chose to change our tradition this year--the same year we lost our eldest sibling, Peggy. Her spirit will be with each of us wherever we are.
I wish you a good day of thanksgiving for whatever love, nourishment, and moments of peace you are offered. I'm thankful for all I receive.
Peace
Judy
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