The transformation of a Thanksgiving table from a childhood memory to an adult experience is nothing short of remarkable. The author's earliest memories of the holiday are tied to family gatherings and mealtimes with relatives on the block, where the spread was simple but satisfying: turkey, baked and fried; sweet potatoes dripping in King Syrup; cheap biscuits that popped out of cans; stuffing with sausage they couldn't eat because it was pork; ham; macaroni and cheese, always slightly burned on top. These meals were a far cry from gourmet cuisine.
As the author grew older, their perspective shifted. While playing Nintendo, before TurboGrafx-16 dropped – I was the only brat with a Neo Geo, and then later, a Sony PlayStation – they'd be summoned for a plate. Their aunts had to ensure they got their fair share because older cousins would eat everything, leaving rice from Korean stores as their option.
"Come eat!" they'd yell, guiding them past the spread, pointing out each dish. The author would select everything except pork or whatever their inexperienced palate deemed edible. Food quality, plate presentation, and flavors didn't matter; they just wanted to inhale whatever was put in front of them as long as it didn't have mayonnaise.
This carefree attitude towards food began to wane with age. As the author entered their 20s, they became increasingly radicalized against Thanksgiving, viewing it as a holiday that commemorated the colonizers who practiced genocide on Native American brothers and sisters. Their anger simmered throughout the month of November but would be released only on Thanksgiving Day.
For years, formal dinners were few and far between. The author would spend Thanksgivings hanging out with friends or playing video games indoors with dice. They'd also try to link up with women they were dating after their family's dinner, avoiding becoming the center of attention at holiday gatherings.
However, in one fateful Thanksgiving, their life changed when a woman who had attended their high school moved back next door and invited them over for dinner. The author found themselves at her home for Thanksgiving, surrounded by her family, where they were served a delicious slice of warm orange pie that initially looked like sweet potato pie but turned out to be pumpkin.
The discovery sparked a mix of emotions, with the hosts bursting into laughter when the truth came out. This moment marked a turning point in the author's life – they began redefining Thanksgiving as a time for family, friends, and love, rather than a holiday commemorating colonial genocide. Today, their table combines traditional dishes like Stove Top stuffing and fake cranberry sauce with more upscale options like lobster, prawns, and crab cakes.
The plate has evolved from a humble childhood spread to a reflection of the author's growth into a sophisticated and open-minded individual who blends past traditions with new experiences and tastes.
As the author grew older, their perspective shifted. While playing Nintendo, before TurboGrafx-16 dropped – I was the only brat with a Neo Geo, and then later, a Sony PlayStation – they'd be summoned for a plate. Their aunts had to ensure they got their fair share because older cousins would eat everything, leaving rice from Korean stores as their option.
"Come eat!" they'd yell, guiding them past the spread, pointing out each dish. The author would select everything except pork or whatever their inexperienced palate deemed edible. Food quality, plate presentation, and flavors didn't matter; they just wanted to inhale whatever was put in front of them as long as it didn't have mayonnaise.
This carefree attitude towards food began to wane with age. As the author entered their 20s, they became increasingly radicalized against Thanksgiving, viewing it as a holiday that commemorated the colonizers who practiced genocide on Native American brothers and sisters. Their anger simmered throughout the month of November but would be released only on Thanksgiving Day.
For years, formal dinners were few and far between. The author would spend Thanksgivings hanging out with friends or playing video games indoors with dice. They'd also try to link up with women they were dating after their family's dinner, avoiding becoming the center of attention at holiday gatherings.
However, in one fateful Thanksgiving, their life changed when a woman who had attended their high school moved back next door and invited them over for dinner. The author found themselves at her home for Thanksgiving, surrounded by her family, where they were served a delicious slice of warm orange pie that initially looked like sweet potato pie but turned out to be pumpkin.
The discovery sparked a mix of emotions, with the hosts bursting into laughter when the truth came out. This moment marked a turning point in the author's life – they began redefining Thanksgiving as a time for family, friends, and love, rather than a holiday commemorating colonial genocide. Today, their table combines traditional dishes like Stove Top stuffing and fake cranberry sauce with more upscale options like lobster, prawns, and crab cakes.
The plate has evolved from a humble childhood spread to a reflection of the author's growth into a sophisticated and open-minded individual who blends past traditions with new experiences and tastes.
Thanksgiving is all about embracing the complexity of our family traditions 
. Growing up, it was super casual, but as you get older, your perspective shifts and so do your food preferences 
. It's amazing how one experience can change everything - like when that woman invited them over for dinner and served a delicious slice of pumpkin pie 
. It opened their eyes to the true meaning of Thanksgiving: love, family, and friendship 
. Now they've got it all figured out - blending old-school comfort food with some high-end flavors 
. That's what I call evolution! 
. But can we also acknowledge that this transformation might be a bit of a whitewashing of the holiday's darker history? Like, the author's life-changing moment with the orange pie was pretty cool and all 
, but shouldn't they've had some kind of reckoning with their past feelings about Thanksgiving first?
The fact that their table combines traditional and upscale options is really cool – maybe we can learn from each other about finding common ground around holidays that might be divisive for some people 
.
. Maybe this means there can be multiple Thanksgivings – one for nostalgia and tradition, and another for progress and growth? Either way, I'm here for it 
!
The way this article is talking about Thanksgiving is so deep 
, but then they start to realize that there's more to it than that. It's like, their whole perspective changed when they met this woman who invited them over for Thanksgiving and showed them a different side of the holiday 
. They were all like "I hate this holiday!" because it reminds them of the bad stuff that happened to Native Americans 
. But then they had this moment where they realized that maybe there's more to it than just being about that one dark chapter in history 
. It's like, they took back control of the holiday and made it mean something positive again 
.
. It's crazy how much food can change from year to year! My family still does the classic stuff like turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing, but my aunt's been experimenting with new recipes, so now you'll find some fancy-schmancy shrimp or scallops at our table too 
. It's a great reminder that we can always grow and change our perspectives, even when it comes to something as important as the holidays 
.
What's your favorite Thanksgiving dish? Do you stick to classic or mix it up like the author does? 
I feel you on this Thanksgiving vibe! Growing up, my family gatherings were all about the food, too - think leftover pizza crusts and ramen noodles 
. But as I got older, my perspective shifted, like that author's. I started to see how much of a cultural thing Thanksgiving is, especially with the whole Native American genocide thing 
.
. We made this epic spread with all sorts of fancy-schmancy dishes, and it was amazing! It really made me realize that Thanksgiving doesn't have to be some oppressive holiday - it can be a time for love, family, and good food 
, or pumpkin pie with a hint of spice 
. It's all about embracing the past while still trying new things. And, honestly, who needs traditional Thanksgiving when you can make it your own? 
and coastal cities r gettin flooded left & right. its not like we can just 'redefine' our relationship with the environment, somethin's gotta give 
. Like, I get it, some people wanna celebrate their heritage and all that, but I think we're just romanticizing a holiday that's been watered down over time 
. Back in the day, turkey was probably cooked in like, 10 minutes and served with canned veggies - yeah, no thanks 
.
. Either way, I'm glad people are finding ways to make the holiday work for them, but let's not pretend like we're all suddenly gonna be super cool and open-minded just because we try some new foods 
.
. Just saying.