My Favorite Thanksgiving Traditions That Do Not Include Turkey

Thank you Arlo

Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash

For many years, I have indulged in a handful of personal Thanksgiving traditions that few people know about.

These are traditions that transcend the need to be with family, eat a big meal, or watch parades and football. My traditions carry priority over family commitments until accomplished, then I’m all about the family.

The three secret things I do are:

• I eat a big gourmet hamburger, usually on Wednesday night. This is in preparation for eating a turkey dinner with all the super sides on Thursday. Eating a hamburger helps me transition from beef to poultry, knowing that I’ll be eating leftover turkey meals for many days.
• I also buy a bottle of Balvenie 14 yr. Old Single Malt — Carribean Cask Scotch. It is one of my favorite holiday libations. Its smooth, deep flavor is perfect over an ice ball or a compliment to a good cigar.
• The third thing I do is watch the movie Alice’s Restaurant.

If you’re unfamiliar with Alice’s Restaurant, it is a cult movie produced in 1969. The story follows the ballad by the same name that folk singer Arlo Guthrie recorded in 1967. It is about his adventures with his friend Alice, who opened a restaurant, renovated a church, and got…