by marie-elena (ferracano) r » Mon Nov 12, 2007 9:51 pm
HELLO OLD & NEW FRIENDS.
IT'S BEEN A VERY LONG TIME. HOPE EVERYONE IS DOING WELL? AS SOME OF YOU ALREADY KNOW. I LIVED AT 1543 BEACH AVE. THE PAINO'S WERE NOT ONLY MY LANDLORDS, BUT OUR ADOPTED AUNT & UNCLE. SO EVERY THANKSGIVING, MY MOM COOKED FOR HER SISTER & BROTHER'S FAMILIES. THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE, MY MOM WOULD OPEN THE "FOLDING TABLE" AND MAKE 15-30 PUMPKIN PIES. MY UNCLE "THE CHIEF" WORKED FOR THE A & P, SO DURING THE YEAR WE SAVED ALL THE TINS FROM ALL THE APPLE & CHERRY PIES HE BROUGHT HOME TO US. THEN MOM WOULD TAKE OUT THE LARGE STOCK POT & POUR THE MIXTURE OF PUMPKIN FILLING INTO EACH PIE SHELL. DOWNSTAIRS HAD WONDERFUL SMELLS COMING FROM AUNT MARGIE'S TOO. THEN THERE WAS THE MAKING OF THE STUFFING. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MATCH MOM'S WAY OF MAKING IT. BUT AM NOT SURE IF I HAVE IT DOWN PAT. AUNT MARGE, WHO LIVED DOWNSTAIRS. ALWAYS COOKED FOR HER HER SISTER JOAN & HER GOWN CHILDREN, WITH ANY OF AUNT MARGE'S KIDS THAT WEREN'T GOING TO AN IN-LAW FOR THE HOLIDAY. SO THE FRIDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING WAS THE "PAINO-FERRACANO" SHARE THE FOOD DAY. WE STARTED TO EAT AROUND 1 & ATE IN SHIFTS TIL ABOUT 11P.M. WHEN THE NEWS CAME ON & I WENT UP TO BED TO SLEEP. KEEP IN MIND, MY AUNT MARGE HAD A HUGE DINING ROOM TABLE & ALSO HAD A BUFFET TABLE BEHIND US WITH OTHER GOODIES. I ALWAYS LOVED THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING MORE THAN THE ACTUAL "TURKEY DAY". I ALSO LOVED NEW YEAR'S EVE AT THEIR HOME TOO. THE CHIEF WILL BE GONE 20 YRS & MY AUNT MARGIE 18 YRS. BUT IF I CLOSE MY EYES I SWEAR I CAN STILL HEAR HIM ASKING FOR DESSERT. WHICH HE ALWAYS SHARED WITH EITHER ME AND OR HIS GRANDKIDS. THAT WAS OUR TRADITIONAL THANKSGIVING. NOW I MAKE THE TURKEY EVERY YEAR. BECAUSE MY HUSBAND'S BIRTHDAY IS AROUND THAT WEEK. I TRY TO FOLLOW SOME TRADITIONS & HOPE THAT MY BOYS, WILL REMEMBER THEM WITH FOND MEMORIES, LIKE THE ONES I HAVE. I AM HAPPY TO SAY I HAVE A FEW EXTRA FRIENDS FROM THIS SITE , THAT I AM THANKFUL FOR THIS HOLIDAY, AS WELL AS THE OLD & DEAR ONES.. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL. MARIE-ELENA