It’s not just the business of branding that keeps us interested in our work, but the stories of the people behind the brands, and how these stories get told through the delivery of the brand itself. So to get to know our very own brand better, we thought you may enjoy some stories from FMS team members—sharing the sights, sounds and memories of Thanksgivings past in their own words. Be sure to tell us your Thanksgiving memory in the “comment” section; we love your stories. Happy Thanksgiving!
“I remember going out to the backyard at my grandmother’s house with my cousins and siblings, playing football all day. At the time, we thought it was this massive football field. Only years later, I’d go back to the house and find out that the yard was only 20-yards deep at the most. But as a kid, we thought it was the best football field imaginable.”
“My Thanksgiving memories are all about what I remember as a kid. The smells, the mood, the colors. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade would be on in the background. We’d be snacking on Chex Mix to quell hunger pangs. And Mom would be stationed in the kitchen, sampling the stuffing to get it just right—it could always use more sage. She would talk about the recipes and the ingredients, and that stuck with me even as an adult. Use real butter. Don’t skimp on the diced celery. Watch the broth so it doesn’t get soggy. Want to please everyone? Make sure you get the stuffing right. After hours, days maybe, of prepping and cooking, we’d all sit down to the steaming, perfect meal heaped onto fine Villeroy & Boch ‘Amapola’ poppy china, with iced tea in footed crystal goblets. But we wouldn’t, couldn’t take a bite yet … not before Dad would read Ecclesiastes 3, verses 1 through 13. ‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens …’”
“Tradition. We never steer far away from tradition, which is what makes it so wonderful each year. I always go to my parents’ house the Wednesday before. I wake up early to watch the Thanksgiving parade, while munching on homemade Chex Mix. After that, My sisters and I usually mosey into the kitchen to help mom prepare the feast. She usually only lets us handle putting peanut butter on celery and separating the green olives from the black ones. I don’t think she trusts us to handle much more! Before the feast, we say a prayer, make a toast and go around the table to say what each of us are thankful for. We always eat at 2:00 each year, followed by fudge pie dessert, football and naps. Once we all wake up, we usually make a turkey sandwich (the best part!!) and go compete in a game of darts. My dad wins every year. Usually we follow darts with either crafts, cards or a board game. After that, we put on a Christmas movie and pile up in the living room floor with all the kids. We always turn in early so that the girls can wake up and go Black Friday shopping while the boys go early morning fishing in the freezing cold weather. We all come back moaning about the crowds and the freezing cold weather, but we keep doing it year after year. I guess that’s just part of the fun!”
Thanksgiving…Then and Now.
“Then: Minnesota; a crowded house; my uncle carving the turkey; rice pudding; lots of noise and laughter; men in the basement smoking cigars; women upstairs telling stories; children playing outside in cold weather under gray skies; falling asleep on the way home.
Now: Tennessee; cooking a feast; windows open because the kitchen is too hot; my feet expertly dodging kitties as I carry steaming plates of food; my husband carving the turkey; lots of noise and laughter; running the dishwasher three times to accommodate all the dirty dishes; lying inert from overfeeding, then having some pie anyway.
Time passes and traditions change, but the feeling of being thankful always remains.”
“My favorite Thanksgiving memory happened in 2012. My husband had deployed in early spring in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Nearing the end of his tour, we didn’t know if he would make it in time for the holiday. There were many date changes and much anticipation but he did not arrive by the 22nd. We welcomed him home on the 29th and celebrated our daughter’s birthday and Thanksgiving a couple of weeks late but as a family. The image captures the most thankful moment of my life, welcoming him home from a combat zone for the final time, even if too late for turkey on the proper date.”
“My favorite Thanksgiving holiday memory is visiting my grandparents in Ohio, and getting to see my huge family! Although all of the food was always soooo good, I could not WAIT to have my grandmother’s rice pudding and scallop potatoes (carb city! Ha) The meal would always be ready around lunch time. After we ate, we’d visit with everyone, play games, or just try to ease our full bellies. My grandparent’s house was built in the 1800s, so us kids for some reason always like to play in the dirty old basement. My grandmother was always shocked that we even wanted to go down there, but she let us explore anyways.
After a few hours of visiting that side of the family, we would head over to see our other side of the family at my great-grandparent’s house. They would always have tons of food, but I could barely eat anything because I had just eaten at my other grandparent’s house! However, I always seem to have room for a piece of my Uncle Bub’s cakes. He makes homemade cakes from scratch every year. After we ate, my sweet great-grandpa would ALWAYS show me different coins from his coin collection, and give me one. I collected coins, too, so it was a special thing that him and I got to share growing up.
It was always such a jammed packed time visiting from out of town to see our many family members in Ohio, but I always had so much fun, and loved that we got to see everyone.”
“My Thanksgiving memories definitely go back to when I was young. Thanksgiving usually meant sleeping in, getting up to find the Thanksgiving Day parade on TV. It would only keep my interest long enough to see a couple of my favorite character balloons. My brother, dad and I would play plenty of football while my mom was preparing the food. Looking back now I realize how much work that was for her but I know she would not have it any other way; she loves taking care of her family. My dad would carve the bird. My brother and I would be grossed out by the giblets. We would sit down to an early dinner because to me, that is just too big of a meal to eat for lunch.
Before we wrapped up the meal, every year, my dad would ask each of us to share with the family what we are thankful for (he still does this to this day). As a child, this seemed like a task but as an adult and being a parent now, I realize how important this was and this is really the whole point of the day.”
“When I was growing up, our thanksgiving celebrations were large, family and friend filled affairs. Inevitably, after dinner, my grandfathers would sit down to watch football and fall asleep. Head back, mouth open, snoring loudly. My little brother and I would have contests to see who could put the most stuff in their mouths or on their faces without them waking up.”
