THANKSGIVING MEMORIES

So today is Thanksgiving. We will be making the trek out to Old Hickory Lake to my uncle's home (actually he has two houses next door to each other) and eating a huge midday dinner with about 40 or so others. Most everyone is related to someone else there, but there are a few people who are not. Of course, everyone brings something to eat (I always take my spinach casserole). One cute Chinese couple always brings homemade pork or chicken dumplings that are to die for. Then someone else brings a squash bisque and we all try not to overdo on those so we can enjoy the real deal. Sometimes when I get a hankeriing for it, I make oyster stuffing, but I didn't this year.

Last weekend we were at a dinner party and someone suggested we tell a story of a memorable Thanksgiving. The one that flashed into my mind was when I was in high school and we were all sitting at the table with the usual family (my grandfather, step-grandmother, their daughter, who was just two years older than MA, as well as my parents and sisters). But also at the table were two new faces.

One was Shirley Foley (daughter of Red and now long time wife of Pat Boone) and her current "boyfriend," Bill Kreitemeyer. (Hope I spelled that right.) Bill was the star of the Vandy football team that year and I was completely star-struck!! I was used to Shirley because she had been living with us for several months and I knew her sisters well from school. But here was this COLLEGE FOOTBALL STAR sitting at our table and I could hardly eat.

But in looking back, I realize how ironic my awe of Bill was when a few montHs later Shirley would begin dating Pat Boone and he would be a regular visitor for a while!!

TALK ABOUT STAR STRUCK!!!