ZOBERS: THANKSGIVING DAY 2011

This year thanksgiving day fall on November 24. (in the USA thanksgiving is observed on the last thursday of November). The day saw a bright sunshine and the mild temperature which is bizarre, as last year today was really cold. This year also experienced cold and wet weather until the day before thanksgiving day. Uncanny indeed. But surprisingly, on the big day the weather turned out pleasant, which triggered all our disposition to a lofty level!

For typical American Thanksgiving day is a consequential day; surpassing all other holidays in it's significance. People travel far and wide in order to be together with family. Many people instill a habit of being with a family on this day. It is a day when most American take a road trip or air trip, it is a weekend most people travel. It is a day of big food, of course it is a turkey day along with corn and mashed potato!

We have been looking forward to this day since a couple of months ago. For some reason my daughter Kimi wanted to celebrate this year thanksgiving in a festive way. She and her mom had been planning the day with what to eat; who to include and most importantly how to relax. My daughter, whom I dearly call Mami, wanted her mom to make, among many other things, a sweet and sour crispy chicken. A dish her mom learnt and excelled recently; a dish which Mami thinks of as second to none. In addition to this, my wife wants to make number of dishes in which we think she reign supreme among her antagonist!

So far I am sure what we would be served; baked turkey, Mizo bai, baked salmon, baked chicken, classic mashed potatoes, white plain rice, green beans and Brussels sprouts, goat cheese-pistachio ball, creamy spinach, checkerboard sweet potato, cranberry-apple mold, wild mushroom soup, hmarcha rawt, apple sour cream pie with vanilla ice cream for the dessert, and lastly sparkling apple cider to wash it all down. Mmm.. sounds good.

As it is a family affairs, Mami nor mommy didn't know who to invite or whom to include in the family. It is understood that many people would celebrate with their near and dear ones. Therefore we want to summon only our beloved friends who are close to us, apparently one who is not planning to go any where else. We don't want to invite some friends who might already have another plans with another friends. For we can caused them perplexity. After a long deliberation they came up with four friends, and we are all gratified with that.

HOWEVER!!

Every year our office used to let us choose on which one holiday we want to take off. There are three little holidays such as, Memorial day, Independence day and Labor day. Each employee has to choose one day to work from among those three holidays. Theres no exception. And there are three big holidays, such as Thanksgiving day, Christmas day and New Year day. Again each one of us has to work one day from these days too. As there can be a conflict between employees as to which day one wants to work, our office make arrangement in such a way that nobody can complain. They set a day and time on to which we can call and make a schedule to work. If you are late to call your supervisor, theres a good chance that the spot might have filled up and you might not get the schedule you want. This year thats exactly what happened to me. I called in late and as a result even though I want a day off so much on thanksgiving day, I didn't get the morning schedule. For that reason whether I like it or not, I have to go to work on thanksgiving day from 3 pm to 10 pm. Which is a prime time, fun time, dinner time, merry making time. I am going to miss all the fun and food my Mami and dear mommy prepared for us.

BUT STILL:

After dinner is served, but before jumping in into the food; we would sit together and share what we are thankful for this year. Everybody takes a turn in sharing what kind of blessing he/she feels to get from God during the year. I would be absent at that time; therefore I would like to put down some of the reasons why I am thankful to my God this year: In spite of all my weaknesses in serving my God I am Thankful to Him:

1. My beloved mother passed away January 26 2011. I am so sorrowful for my mother's demise, however I am thankful to God for giving me my mother; the best mother in the world; and still saving and blessing my father's life till today.
2. For the gracious gift of spiritual and physical health showered to my family and to me throughout the year.
3. For my Job and the bountiful pay He is blessing me with. This is vital for the survival of my family.
4. For the unfailing Church and interminable good friends bestow on me.
5. For the inexhaustible love I get from my wife and kids.

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Recapitulation:

Later the day, I was lucky to be able to make it at the table. We expected the following confidante to come, they are, Tv. Hruaitea of Oman; Tv. Andrew of Tuikual, Nl. Teboihi of Vairengte/Chhinga Veng and Tv. Hlua of Tahan. As per plan everybody show up on time, and we took a long leisure time, eating, drinking and chatting. Nobody complained anything; in fact everyone commended the skill and effort the big chef de cuisine displayed.