Thursday, November 25, 2010

Turkey transfer averted

When I signed off last night, I was still unsure if my oven would open today.

Things looked dire this morning when Joe told me that after he came in last night, he yanked on the handle a couple of times and it fell off. And the oven still refused to open. I couldn't be angry with him because I had pulled on the handle myself, only not as hard.

This morning I talked to Deb about bringing the turkey there. I had it all ready to go, and she was preheating her oven, when Jim came by to perform a last-ditch investigation.

He fiddled with this and that and still, it looked like the oven would not succumb.

"It's frustrating, isn't it?" Joe asked.

Jim wasn't ready to give up, and suddenly, a Thanksgiving miracle happened. The door opened! We all high-fived, and we called the turkey transfer off. Jim said it had something to do with the lock being slightly out of position. Whew.

It was kind of hard to open with the handle missing, but two small end pieces remained to pull on. The fate of the oven, and of the attached broken microwave, is a problem for another day.

I puttered around doing a few things such as fixing the flower arrangements, getting down the serving dishes and getting out my mother's silver serving pieces, with some jobs remaining such as ironing the tablecloth so that Katie could set the table.

I took my time eating a bagel and reading the paper.

Maddie needed to be walked, so I took her out in the early afternoon, not checking the time. We went around the lake twice, talking to people along the way. When I got back home, Ben was at the door. "Do you have any idea what time it is?" he asked. "They're coming in half an hour!"

What? I actually did not have any idea what time it was. I thought it was 2:30, but it was an hour later.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I'm a moron."

"Do you expect us to disagree with you?" someone asked.

"No, but I figure if I criticize myself first, then nobody else will be able to," I said.

"Actually," Jim said to Joe, "I think she really didn't know what time it was."

If we were married, this situation might have led to a fight. Sometimes being divorced and friendly is so much easier.

Anyway, the kids and Jim finished up while I changed. Deb, Charlotte and their black lab, Mary Margaret, arrived just a couple of minutes before I came down.

The turkey was delicious, as was everything else. We were all in good spirits.

We gave thanks for health, family, friends and of course good food and a warm, safe place to live. Ben gave the "Al Gordon" speech in honor of my father, who loved to say that despite our country's flaws, it is still the best country in the world.

If the oven were a person, it should have given thanks that we did not beat it to pieces before it finally gave in.

15 comments:

donna said...

I'm laughing like crazy reading about your day. It sounds like a Seinfeld episode. Glad it all worked out, and yes, we do all have a lot to be thankful for!

Sarah B said...

Glad the oven door didn't lock with the turkey inside...

Anonymous said...

Happy Holidays. Sounds like an adventure.

Shane

Amarilees B said...

i enjoyed reading your piece, glad to have found out that your oven finally turned out to work. i hope you and your famiily had a great thanksgiving.

Taylor S said...

I'm so happy the oven opened, but that was one amazing story to be able to tell. I hope you have better luck with the oven for christmas. Hope the holidays find you well :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Ronni. Glad yout turkey transfer was averted! At my Thanksgiving, my mom cooked the turkey upside down! It still turned out good. Glad it worked out for both of us. Happy and Healthy holidays to you and your family. xoxo

Tim Swenson said...

Ronni, I enjoyed your story about your thanksgiving day, hope you have a good upcoming holiday!

Diana Harkness said...

Sounds like you had an awesome Thanksgiving- despite all the minor issues before! I'm glad it turned out well and I hope everything else is going well for you!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like everything worked out for the best happy holidays

jon spfld college said...

i loved your thanksgiving story, and how you got prepared. i think it was very entertaining and its a good thing the oven finally opened up..Happy Thanksgiving

Evan K said...

We had the same locked oven issue a few years back on christmas. Only for us the lasagna was in the oven at the time. Needless to say it came out a bit crunchy! Always something to make it interesting!

Lisa said...

Glad to hear that the oven was unlocked and you had a happy Thanksgiving with your family!

Jon D. said...

Ronni, i thoroughly enjoyed reading both of your Thanksgiving pieces! sounds like the luck my family has lol

Anonymous said...

Thanksgiving is always a stressful day. We had 15 people over for thanksgiving and I was my mother's thirrd and fourth arms. She made me iron the table cloth and set the table. I hope your thanksgiving was as nice as mine. I hope the other holidays don't give you as much stress! Have a great winter.

Anonymous said...

Happy Holidays Ronni! I am glad that the oven finally opened...I know I would never be that calm!

Your friend at SC