Well Done, Please

He liked his pumpkin pie "well done". Meaning, it should not be mushy or too soft, and the top should have some darker spots. He loved pumpkin pie, as long as it was well done. He also loved turkey. The white meat. And he liked it DRY. He did NOT like it too moist. I often wondered if he REALLY liked his pumpkin pie and turkey well done, or if it was his way of dealing with my lack of culinary skills. I can make dried turkey. I can make well done pumpkin pies. And he was fine with that. Lou always said that I never made a meal he didn't eat. What a saint. But I digress. We haven't had years of Thanksgiving traditions that we follow. I'm kind of glad. It made today a bit easier. For many years, we went to Lou's mom's for Thanksgiving. When it got to the point that she was unable to do it, we went to his brothers. We only had it at our place a few times all those years. Then, we started going out. Lou felt very strongly that it was too much work, too much mess, that it was better to go out. Since he was our dishwasher, and I was the reluctant cook, going out was not a bad idea. Lou loved to go to the club we belong to. He loved the atmosphere and getting dressed up. The food was very good. But I always thought Thanksgiving should be at home. So I would make well done pumpkin pies and stuff a turkey breast just to have the smells of Thanksgiving and leftovers. And that's how we did Thanksgiving. Until Lou got sick. Then it was back home again. Last year, we did it up right. Brined the turkey, all the side dishes, pumpkin pies, china, crystal and candles. We had other family members join us. Somehow, I managed to get it right. It was lovely, and Drew even took over Lou's job as dishwasher. When the dinner was over, and we were all sitting around the table chatting, Lou thought we were at the club. I took that as a good sign. I think Lou liked that Thanksgiving at home. Especially since he did not have to do the dishes. This year, we had it here again. Did the whole bit again, just like last year. Only of course, it wasn't like last year. Oh, I think for some of us, it was. But not for me. I feel like I am just going through the motions with just about everything I do these days. Going through the motions gets you through. So, I got through Thanksgiving. And now, I have to get through December. That will be much harder. I'm looking forward to January.