Thanksgiving has involved long-standing traditions in my family. 2011 was the 19th year of our Turkey Bowl tradition. The Turkey Bowl involves a touch football game with my Northern California family: Aunt Renee, Uncle John, Cousin Matt, his wife Teresa and their daughter Jenna. I should also point out that in the beginning my Uncle Mike and his best friend Greg were regulars. At some point, we started taking turns making T shirts for the event. Aunt Renee is like our event historian: she kept all the T shirts!
In the past, we would alternate locations: one year in Portland, the next in Palo Alto, and so on. Around 5 years ago, we moved the celebration to a self-catering resort called the Running Y Ranch in Klamath Falls. We each rent for a week a little chalet that comes with an outfitted kitchen and washer and dryer. It works out really well. Klamath Falls is about halfway for both families. And since we pack in, pack out our food, we actually buy and eat less. We've also had snow for some years, and that has added to the fun for sure.
What's really nice about having such a long-standing tradition is that we've learned how to go with the flow. You know how holidays can make some families totally stress out about creating a perfect memory? Well, we know that some years are just more stressful that others. We've been sharing the holiday for over 20 years (we started even before we added the Turkey Bowl), and we've been in different places in our personal lives along the way. I was in high school when this all started. I introduced Alan to the family and announced our engagement at Thanksgiving. We were in Caliornia when I was 8 months pregnant with Connor, and we back there again after my big car accident in October 2007. It's just a magnificent family time.
It worked out well that I married an Irishman, because we were never really conflicted about where to spend holidays, "We can spend Thanksgiving with my family, and Christmas with yours." :)
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