“Well, that’s what I read in college ‘bout the Holiday. And, it was interestin’to note that it only got popular during the Civil War, after Sherman gave us a butt whippin’. Seems them Yank’s wanted to celly-brate beatin’ us, so they had ‘em a Thanksgivin’,” I spoke to no one in particular and then lifted my ice tea to check how much I still had left in the glass.
“I figure turkey farmers started the whole she-bang. They need a reason fer us to eat their old dry bird. That, and to get our hard earned money,” Bobby Dale’s statement came flying out there without warning.
“Turkey’s a-sellin’ turkey’s ... I like that Bobby Dale,” Bubba said with a loud chuckle.
“Did ya know that turkey was most likely not even on the menu when the pilgrims had the first Thanksgivin’?” I asked the group.
“What!” Uncle Ben yelled in a surprised voice. I thought his eye’s would explode, they got so large.
“Yep, my college pro-fessor said they prob’ly had deer, ‘possum, coon, fish, corn, greens of all sorts, and taters,” I said with a smile supported by an all knowing nod of my head.
“How come all them Thanksgivin’ pic’shures has the Pilgrims ‘round a table with a turkey in the middle. Hills far, even that Norma Rockwall feller painted one of them pic’shures.” Uncle Ben asked.
“Yea, Gury Lee, how come?” Bobby Dale echoed Ben.
“Seems the poultry folks in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and other northern states starting pushin’ turkey’s as the national Thanksgivin’ food right after the War Between the States. They got them painters to do ‘er up right,” I replied to keep the pot stirred up real good.
“Dawg-gone Yankee states, all of ‘em! I jess knowed it!” Bubba exclaimed as he leaned forward and slapped his right knee.
It was very quiet for about five minutes. You could hear the women laughing and talking in the house. A dog down the road at old man Cisco’s started barking at something.
Then, Ben spoke, “How come folks need only one day a year to give thanks? And, why do they need to make it a national Holiday?”
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