Thanksgiving Prep Underway

“Thy bounty shines in autumn unconfirmed
      And spreads a common feast
           For all that live.”
                By James Thomson

We did go shopping for our Thanksgiving feast by visiting the Market Basket Store in Brockton before 8 a.m. last Sunday. It wasn’t too crowded at that time of morning. Hubby went one way to get supplies while I went across the store to the produce and frozen foods sections. We are always amazed at the low prices. We will wait until next week to get the egg nog and sour cream (for the dip). We already bought the Knorr Leek Soup to mix with the sour cream. I couldn’t find the soup mix because I was looking in the gravy section. Hubby found it in the dry soup section.

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For those who love Christmas: You will be happy to know that Channel 541 on Comcast Cable in Boston is already playing Christmas music. Hubby and I turn it on when there is nothing else on TV. And daughter Sue turns on that channel when she is at our house.
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Each year Hubby and I look forward to the first Sunday of November. On that day we motor out to the Charles River County Club in Newton. This year, the weather was the worst of any year that we had gone there for the Boston Teachers’ College Alumni Brunch. It was actually snowing as we got into our car on Nov. 2. It was even worse as we went down the Expressway and onto Route 128. Newton is a maze of streets but we thought that we knew how to find the country club. When we had gone so far that we thought we’d have to show our passports, we turned around and finally saw the two stone columns at the entrance to the club. Because the walking was not good with the snow, Hubby drove me up to the clubhouse and went back to the parking lot.  Inside, our friend Elaine De Costa was already there. Classmate Barbara Hogan came in on her heels. Cousin Janet, with her friend Jean McDonagh (spelled the correct Irish way), joined us. We took chances, measured by an arm’s length, so people asked Hubby to measure their chances. Janet also received 19 chances because her arm was just as long as Hubby’s, so they both were able to get the most chances. (Even with 19 tickets each, we didn’t win anything.)

We watched out the windows of the clubhouse as a gaggle of Canada geese and a rafter of wild turkeys pecked at the grassy area, which was somewhat snow-covered. In our corner of the room, it was a little cool for us because we were surrounded by windows. One of our gals went out to the cloak room to get her coat.

We met three more of our Class of ’56 mates in the dining room. Marie Fox, Class of ’52, and Madeline McLean Smith, Class of ’51, welcomed us. Dean Michael Middleton gave us an official welcome from UMass-Boston. We were saddened to learn that Chancellor Keith Motley would be unable to attend the luncheon. We always enjoy listening to him tell us about the improvements at the university. Daughter Sue, who did not attend the luncheon, called me at 11 that evening to say, “I know where the Chancellor was today.” Sue told me that he was interviewed by a TV reporter while waiting in line to express his sympathy to the Menino family at the mayor’s wake.

Jane Monahan Milano, Class of ’55, gave her treasurer’s report. She proudly announced that the Boston Teachers’ College Scholarship Fund was at $500,000. Because of the generosity of the donors, the three recipients of the scholarships this year will each receive a $5,000 award. We all cheered at the amount of the scholarships. Each of the recipients (Monet Dugan, Willie Jones Jr., and Anjelica Mazzeo) gave terrific “thank you” speeches. Virginia Lee Langley, Class of ‘48, read the poem that she had written especially for the three recipients.

The luncheon was lovely, as it always is at the Charles River Country Club. The chicken dinner also had au gratin potatoes, thin, tender asparagus, rolls, and a tomato soup appetizer, which was very welcome on that cold day. For dessert we all agreed that it was Baked Alaska, which was delicious. I had not seen Baked Alaska in probably 40 years.

At the end of the luncheon, we were allowed to take any photo, which included ourselves, from the displays in the hall. As we left the clubhouse, we were able to walk down to the parking area because the early morning snow had melted.

We didn’t go straight home. As always, Hubby wanted to visit the New England Mobile Book Fair in Newton to get several books. The store only had one of his choices, much to his dismay.

Then, when we finally got out of Newton, we still did not go home. We wanted to go to the wake of John Padgett, my Cousin Mary’s husband. It was not too far to go to the West Roxbury funeral home ,so we decided we would go there before we went home. On the way home, we stopped at Walgreen’s on Centre Street in West Roxbury to look for Hershey’s Kisses wrapped in red, silver, and green foil. The store had only plain (silver-wrapped) foil. I decided that I needed a bottle of Diet Coke to drink on the way home so I bought that.

The ride from West Roxbury to home was easy. There was very little traffic on that Sunday evening. When we arrived home, Sue was waiting outside to welcome us home. After Hubby shut down the car, I reached for my pocket book at my feet. It wasn’t there. I looked in the back seat. It wasn’t there either. I must have left it at Walgreen’s. We asked Sue to call the store to let them know that we would be back there in about 15 minutes. When I arrived at the store, a woman named Tiara was still the cashier. She was waiting on a customer. As soon as she finished, she looked at me and said, “Are you here for your handbag?” I said, “Yes.” She said, “The manager has it. I spotted it in a carriage and I gave it to the manager.” Out came the manager. It was his first night at this store.  “What’s your name?” he asked” I told him my name and he handed me my bag. What a relief! All I could think of was all the things in my purse: driver’s license, medical info, a Xerox of my Social Security Card, a  couple of credit cards, and even a few nitro tablets in case I need them. (I haven’t had to use nitro in years.) I thanked Tiara again and thanked her manager, David Guynn. I asked if I could do anything for them. David asked me to call 1-800-walgreens (one too many numbers but it worked). I called that number the following morning and told the woman who answered how kind both Tiara and David had been to me. She said that they would both be commended by the company.

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On Saturday evening, Oct. 25, Hubby, daughter Sue, and I drove to the Common Market Restaurant in Quincy. That night’s show was a Tribute to the Beatles’ Band by the group called “Studio Two.” Sue could hardly wait. She loves Beatles’ music. When “Paul,” “John,” “George,” and “Ringo” stepped on the stage, we all gasped. They looked so much like the real Beatles. Their wigs were just like the Beatles’ haircuts. Their clothes were from the Beatles’ era. We sat back for a pleasant evening. John McDonald was the emcee.

The first song was “I Wanna Hold Your Hand.” Everyone sang along. On the next three songs they again did so: “She Loves You,” “I Saw Her Standing There,” and “ From Me and You.”  Sue didn’t even know the following song. Then they played “My Bonnie,” and “My Girl.” Then there was a song “Do You Want to Know a Secret?” Everyone was singing that one and especially the next, “My Girl.” There was another terrific song, one of my favorites, “I’ll Be There.” “All My Lovin’” and “A Hard Day’s Night” were two more of Sue’s favorite songs. Sue knew almost all of the band’s songs, except the very old Beatles’ songs. They ended with “Roll Over, Beethoven.”

We were sorry to see the end of the concert. The four singers were wonderful. They sounded so much like the “Fab Four.” Quite a few of the audience went up to the stage and had their photos taken with the group. We understand that the four have only been together for a year and one-half and come from Rhode Island. I was close enough so that I could see the drummer’s feet. How he kept up the rhythm with his feet, never mind play his drums with his hands, going a mile a minute, I’ll never know.

On the way out of the Common Market, Sue said, “I see Tommy Finneran ahead of us.” I was delighted to have a few minutes to chat with Tommy and his lovely wife Donna. They were very pleased with “The Beatles.” We agreed that Studio Two will go far.

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Last year, I bought a group of little figurines, a male and female Pilgrim and several Indians, at Walgreen’s. They are already down on the first floor from the attic. They are adorable. Good luck with your preparations for Thanksgiving!


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