As a child, Thanksgiving was a big tradition living in New England. We learned of the first Pilgrims that came over on the Mayflower in school and from other adults. On Thanksgiving morning we would play out in the woods behind our house and pretend that we were Pilgrims coming in on the Mayflower. There were eight children in our family.

We were hungry most all the time so this was an exciting event for us. This would also be a day for all of us to fill our bellies full. We would play outside until the food was ready, usually about noon time.

We always got a turkey, potatoes, squash, celery, bread and butter that would arrive at our house from social services the day before. Mom would make home made bread stuffing for the turkey. She would break up the bread by hand, add cut up onions, celery and seasoning. I hated celery but I would eat it anyway. She would stuff the turkey the night before, put it in the oven and the turkey would cook all night. Dad had to keep getting up in the night to put wood in the stove not only to keep us warm, it was our only source of heat, but to bake the turkey. The next day all the other food would be cooked on the wood stove. Mashed potatoes with home made gravy, and mashed squash with lots of real butter. Everyone wanted the drumstick because it was so big. Dad and my older brother, Bobby, usually got to have them. There was always conflict over who would get the wish bone so mom usually wouldn